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Lehi players watch the penalty kick shootout during the 5A championship game against Alta at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Lehi players pose for a photo with the runner-up trophy after the 5A championship game against Alta at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Lehi sophomore Colton Marsing dribbles up the field during the 5A championship game against Alta at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Lehi freshman Gavin Fenn (20) goes up for a header during the 5A championship game against Alta at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Lehi sophomore Colton Marsing has a shot blocked during the 5A championship game against Alta at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Lehi junior Nate Shepherd battles for the ball during the 5A championship game against Alta at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Lehi junior Alfred Vargas settles the ball during the 5A championship game against Alta at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Lehi junior Nate Shepherd brings the ball down during the 5A championship game against Alta at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Lehi senior Christian Jones takes a free kick during the 5A championship game against Alta at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Lehi head coach Tim Graham hugs one of his players after the 5A championship game against Alta at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

❮ ❯

Coming into Wednesday’s 5A state championship game at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy against Region 8 rival Alta, the Lehi boys soccer team had had five games decided in penalty kick shootouts.

The Pioneer record? 5-0, including defeating Stansbury in the semifinals.

So when the final seconds of the second overtime ticked off the clock with neither team having scored, Lehi had plenty of reason to be confident.

But this time their luck ran out as it was the Hawks who made the big stops and hammered home their shots to give Alta the 0-0 (3-1) victory over the Pioneers and win the 2022 state title.

“That might have been the best game I’ve ever coached,” Lehi head coach Tim Graham said. “It was such a high-level chess match. You hate losing in PKs, but it is what it is. We couldn’t put them in, but the game plan was right. They did everything we asked them to do. We had our chances, plenty of chances. But if you’re going to lose one, as heartbreaking as it is, you’d rather have a tough one that is close than coming in not ready.”

Scoring chances were at a premium throughout the contest as the defenses refused to make mistakes.

Lehi got some good opportunities from sophomore Colton Marsing, senior Christian Jones and junior Nate Shepherd, but none could find the net. At the other end, the Pioneer defense led by senior Tyson Haunga and sophomore keeper Kaleb Cowley was just as stout.

That result in the draw that came down to the shootout. Unlike in the semifinals, this time Lehi went first — only to have the first shot blocked by the Hawk keeper.

“If you don’t make the first one, then next one is harder,” Graham said. “But it’s not anyone’s fault. Their keeper did a great job of reading it and guessing right. It was just unfortunate.”

While the outcome wasn’t what the Pioneers wanted, Graham said he was thrilled by what the team accomplished in 2022.

“You couldn’t ask for anything more,” Graham said. “They left it all on the field. They didn’t hold anything back and you couldn’t ask for more. From where we came from when we took over four years ago to where they’re at and what they’re doing and the level that they play at, I can’t even describe the immense amount of pride I have for them. It’s hard to come up with the words. They are so amazing.”

Graham said the team will have a void to fill with the four seniors who will be moving on.

“First, we told them all to enjoy the journey,” Graham said. “We’ll miss our seniors. We love them and their leadership. They’ve been great and had a lot of success.”

But this Lehi squad has a huge amount of underclassmen who will be hungry to get another chance to compete for a title.

“For these young guys, it’s going to hurt,” Graham said. “It should hurt. It needs to stick in there a little bit and fester. And then they need to build on this for another run next year. I don’t want to focus on the bad but I want it to hurt. Then let’s focus on the good and everything we did. And let’s finish it next time.”

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