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Skyridge celebrates an early goal scored during its 8-7 loss to Riverton on Thursday. May 21, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Provo Daily Herald

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Skyridge's Summer Buechner scoops up a ground ball during her team's 8-7 loss to Riverton in the 6A championship on Thursday. May 21, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Provo Daily Herald

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Skyridge's Geneva Barfuss battles for possession during her team's 8-7 loss to Riverton on Thursday. May 21, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Provo Daily Herald

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Skridge's Sage Curtis works her way toward the goal during her team's 8-7 overtime loss to Riverton on Thursday. May 21, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Provo Daily Herald

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Skyridge goalkeeper Leilani Feifia defended well throughout the match and logged two big saves on penalty shots late during the 6A girls lacrosse championship. May 21, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Provo Daily Herald

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Skyridge poses with its runner-up trophy following Thursday's 8-7 overtime loss to Riverton. May 21, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Provo Daily Herald

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Skyridge battled hard for just over 50 minutes of play, but ultimately came up on the losing end of a 8-7 overtime game versus Riverton during the 5A state championship match on Thursday.

The Silverwolves managed to hit the back of the net on Skyridge goalkeeper Leilani Fiefia, who had deflected more than several prime scoring opportunities throughout the match just seconds prior to the close of the first overtime period.

The loss marked just the second one taken by the Falcons in what proved to be an otherwise dominating season that set forth stellar play throughout. The only difference on Thursday was perhaps the opponent.

“Riverton is a great team,” said Skyridge coach Michelle Buechner. “They did a lot of good things out there today, and so did we. We just made a few more mistakes than they did, and that was the difference.”

Skyridge broke on top late during the first half to take a 6-3 lead into the break. Two of the goals scored came late in the second quarter as the Falcons appeared poised to take firm control of the match.

But things bogged down a bit from there with Riverton proving physical and on the winning end of several draw situations. It all led to the Silverwolves cutting the lead down to 6-5 during the third quarter and finally catching the Falcons at 7-7 early in the fourth.

Riverton dominated possession throughout most of the final five minutes, intent to just run out the clock to limit Skyridge’s scoring opportunities, and ultimately were granted two penalty shots, each of which could have easily proved the game winner. But as mentioned, Fiefia came up big, tallying impressive saves on both fourth quarter penalty shots to force overtime.

“She is an incredible goalie, and so she’s going to make those saves regularly,” Buechner said. “She does it every game and during every practice, so that’s just who she is. She’s an amazing goalie and what you saw today is just the type of play she gives us in every game we play.”

Also standing out for Skyridge was sophomore Summer Buechner, who passed out four assists while encountering a lot of the defensive focus from the Silverwolves. Tessa Jamison, Sophia Fife and Geneva Barfuss logged two goals a piece to lead the charge for the Falcons.

Skyridge was set up with prime opportunity to take the win when set up with a penalty shot with just 10 seconds left in regulation, but an errant shot prevented the win and took the game to overtime.

After the match Coach Buechner gave out multiple hugs of condolences to all of her players, all of whom she couldn’t have been more proud of.

“I’m so proud of them. They’ve worked so hard,” Coach Buechner said. “They don’t miss practice. They’ve come all year long, they’ve prepared and they did a great job.”

More than several of Buechner’s players will be returning to the team next season with the possibility certainly a strong one that the Falcons will be back in the championship and perhaps come out on the winning side.

“We’ve got a good group and they’re just good to each other,” Coach Buechner concluded. “They like to spend time with each other outside of practice. Practice ends, they all go home, and then they’re all right back together playing spikeball, pickleball, or whatever. They just love hanging out and being together. So I really like the community that they’ve formed and the friendships that they’ve formed. I think that’ll keep us together as a unit moving forward.”