Patriot party: American Heritage boys soccer pulls away from Maeser in 2A semifinals
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- American Heritage players celebrate after the 2A state semifinal game at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Thursday, May 9, 2024.
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- American Heritage players celebrate with their supporters after the 2A state semifinal game at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Thursday, May 9, 2024.
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- American Heritage junior Cael Tillman (17) crosses the ball during the 2A state semifinal game against Maeser at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Thursday, May 9, 2024.
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- American Heritage players celebrate after junior Luke Stratton (center) scored a goal during the 2A state semifinal game against Maeser at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Thursday, May 9, 2024.
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- American Heritage players celebrate after the 2A state semifinal game at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Thursday, May 9, 2024.
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- American Heritage keeper Weston Larson collects the ball during the 2A state semifinal game against Maeser at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Thursday, May 9, 2024.
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- American Heritage junior Will Saunders (29) tries to block a pass from Maeser senior Aidan Simmons during the 2A state semifinal game at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Thursday, May 9, 2024.
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- American Heritage players celebrate after scoring a goal during the 2A state semifinal game against Maeser at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Thursday, May 9, 2024.
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- The Maeser keeper knocks the ball away during the 2A state semifinal game against American Heritage at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Thursday, May 9, 2024.
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- A Maeser player takes a shot during the 2A state semifinal game against American Heritage at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Thursday, May 9, 2024.
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- American Heritage keeper XXXXX knocks the ball away during the 2A state semifinal game against Maeser at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Thursday, May 9, 2024.
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- American Heritage senior Lorenzo Cisneros (32) kicks the ball during the 2A state semifinal game against Maeser at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Thursday, May 9, 2024.
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- American Heritage players celebrate after junior Luke Stratton (second from left) scored a goal during the 2A state semifinal game against Maeser at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Thursday, May 9, 2024.
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- Maeser senior Micah Autry (22) heads the ball away during the 2A state semifinal game against American Heritage at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Thursday, May 9, 2024.
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- American Heritage junior Cael Tillman (17) dribbles past a sliding Maeser defender during the 2A state semifinal game at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Thursday, May 9, 2024.
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- American Heritage and Maeser players attempt to head the ball during the 2A state semifinal game at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Thursday, May 9, 2024.
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- A Maeser defender knocks the ball away during the 2A state semifinal game against American Heritage at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Thursday, May 9, 2024.
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- American Heritage senior Kyle Mena (22) heads the ball during the 2A state semifinal game against Maeser at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Thursday, May 9, 2024.
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- Maeser players fight back their emotions after losing the 2A state semifinal game at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Thursday, May 9, 2024.
American Heritage junior midfielder Luke Stratton was ready to celebrate.
Late in the first half of Thursday’s 2A state boys soccer semifinal against rival Maeser, a photo showed Stratton back near the midfield line with his hands in the air as the Patriots had a great scoring opportunity.
That one didn’t turn out in American Heritage’s favor as the connection was just off — but at two other pivotal moments Stratton also had his hands up in celebration.
The first was when he lofted a gorgeous left-footed free kick from 30 yards out on the right side of the field that was perfectly placed on target to give his Patriot team the lead.
The second was even better, since it was when the final whistle blew and American Heritage had secured the impressive 3-0 win over the Lions to punch its ticket to the 2A state title game.
“This means everything,” Stratton said. “Our whole season we have been working towards this and we want it. That’s what we were here to do. It’s amazing to win and be able to go to the championship.”
He said that he knew it wouldn’t be easy against Maeser, a team the Patriots had defeated 3-2 earlier in the season.
“We’ve played them a lot and it’s been neck-and-neck a lot of times,” Stratton said. “We knew we could beat them. We came out and we wanted it. In the last two years we’ve lost in the semifinals and we wanted to win this year. We were just so excited to play against them.”
The game looked like it could be headed in the same direction in the first half as both teams earned some good looks but neither could get the ball in the back of the net.
American Heritage head coach Stephen Blake said his message to his team at halftime was to stay the course and keep up the energy.
“We told them to just keep to the game plan,” Blake said. “Press them, get them to make mistakes, get the ball and go score. Press them over and over again. Don’t let them settle.”
In that type of game, the team who scores first often gets a big boost.
In this case, it was Stratton who got to provide that to the Patriots after American Heritage was awarded a free kick in the Lion half of the field early in the second half.
“I lined up and decided to go for the back of the net,” Stratton said. “I wanted to score. I saw where the keeper lined up and I knew where I could put it. We got the result we wanted.”
Blake said his squad knew that can be an opening and had worked hard on those set pieces.
“(Stratton) scored goals just like that twice already in the season,” Blake said. “We just told him to make sure when it’s that far out to put some more power than you think that you need.”
That got the Patriot offense rolling. The high pressure and aggressive mentality resulted in goals from junior Cael Tillman and senior Niwahai Winitana to put the game away.
That combined with a superb defensive effort was all American Heritage needed to get the victory.
“We knew our goals would come, that we could score,” Stratton said. “We wanted to be settled and be prepared. Our defense is so solid, so we knew the goals would come eventually.”
Maeser was certainly disappointed that it wasn’t able to return to the 2A championship for the second straight year but head coach Dustin Simmons couldn’t have been more proud of his team.
“I think this year’s team is actually better than last year’s,” Simmons said. “This season has just been awesome. We’ve got a group of 10 seniors on our team this year, and they almost all started was back in seventh grade. For those boys, six years of soccer ended today but they’ve had tremendous careers.”
He said that group laid the foundation that the underclassmen will look to carry on.
“When they started, our team wasn’t good,” Simmons said. “This group set the example, not just with what the team is capable of but of establishing a culture to pass on to the next group. They know what our program is about and what they stand for.”
While the Lions saw their season come to a close, American Heritage gets its first shot at winning a championship when it faced Rowland Hall in the title game.
That game will take place at American First Field in Sandy on Saturday at noon.
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Patriot party: American Heritage boys soccer pulls away from Maeser in 2A semifinals
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