Pleasant Grove boys soccer loses in 6A semifinal PK shootout — again
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- Pleasant Grove boys soccer players react after the end of the penalty kick shootout in the 6A semifinal game against Farmington at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
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- Pleasant Grove sophomore keeper Rexton Atkinson dives to block a shot the penalty kick shootout in the 6A semifinal game against Farmington at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
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- Pleasant Grove junior Declan Draney heads the ball during the 6A semifinal game against Farmington at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
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- Pleasant Grove senior Caden Pennock (center) dribbles up the field during the 6A semifinal game against Farmington at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
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- Pleasant Grove senior Rockwell Doman traps the ball during the 6A semifinal game against Farmington at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
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- Pleasant Grove defenders try to block a free kick during the 6A semifinal game against Farmington at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
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- Pleasant Grove sophomore Maximo Olmos brings the ball up the field during the 6A semifinal game against Farmington at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
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- A Pleasant Grove player kicks the ball during the 6A semifinal game against Farmington at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
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- Pleasant Grove junior Golden McMurtrey (9) heads the ball during the 6A semifinal game against Farmington at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
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- Pleasant Grove senior Brady Lindstrom traps the ball during the 6A semifinal game against Farmington at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
You can’t blame the Pleasant Grove boys soccer team for not wanting to compete in any more penalty-kick shootouts in the 6A semifinals.
For the second consecutive year, the Vikings saw their playoff run end when their opponents did a little more in the shootout. After Skyridge did it in 2023, this year it was top-seeded Farmington who edged Pleasant Grove, 1-1 (4-2 in PKs) at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Tuesday.
“It just wasn’t meant to be,” Viking head coach Chris Ecolono said. “We work on penalty kicks every day at the end of practice. The players did all we asked them to do but we just didn’t get the result.”
Pleasant Grove took the early lead in the first half off a header from junior Golden McMurtrey, but the Phoenix answered back only a couple of minutes later when Farmington’s Ben Wright scored a similar goal at the other end.
The Vikings had the best chance to take the lead in regulation when a Phoenix player was red-carded and Pleasant Grove was awarded a penalty kick.
But Farmington keeper Jaxon Beynon came up with a save on the initial shot, then blocked the rebound as well to keep the contest tied at 1-1.
The Vikings played most of the second half and both overtimes with a man advantage but couldn’t find a way to capitalize.
“You’ve got to put them away,” Ecolono said. “Nicola Jokic said it the other night in basketball: you’ve got to make shots. We didn’t make them when we could’ve. Farmington stayed in the game and so you’ve got to give credit to them for giving themselves a chance to take it to penalty kicks.”
The shootout didn’t start well for Pleasant Grove, who were shooting first.
Once again Beynon stopped a penalty kick, giving the Phoenix the momentum. Farmington ended up making all four of its attempts while Beynon stopped one more Viking attempt, allowing the Phoenix to secure the win.
“We knew Region 1 brings a lot of grit and hustle,” Ecolono said. “They are very physical up there. We knew it would be similar to our quarterfinal with Davis. We felt like we got that goal early but we felt like they were dictating play. They were the more aggressive team and we knew we had to match that energy. I’m proud of them for leaving their hearts out on the field.”
Ecolono talked about how his favorite part of the 2024 Pleasant Grove team was how it focused on being there for each other.
“I had our captains read the book, Extreme Ownership, which is about not blaming other people and just taking responsibility for things. At practice they took responsibility for cleaning or picking up our equipment. That mentality really showed on the field in being great teammates to one another and having each other’s backs. Our captains are in tears right now and I’m proud of them for that.”
He said he hoped the underclassman maintain that approach as the Vikings now turn their attention to 2025.
“We have the right culture,” Ecolono said. “We develop who we have. We have the mentality, the grit, the cohesion. The future is bright. That’s what’s fun about coaching at Pleasant Grove. We’ve had winning seasons ever since 2016, which is hard to do with the turnover. But because of our commitment to soccer and values, we feel like we can bring a really good team back.”
Farmington advances to the 6A title game which will take place at America First Field in Sandy on Thursday at 4 p.m.
