Wasatch boys soccer scores late to beat Roy in 5A finals
-
- Wasatch junior Jayden Cosper (center) celebrates after scoring a goal during the 5A championship game against Roy at America First Field in Sandy on Thursday, May 23, 2024.
-
- Wasatch junior Jayden Cosper (right) scores a goal during the 5A championship game against Roy at America First Field in Sandy on Thursday, May 23, 2024.
-
- Wasatch and Roy players battle for the ball during the 5A championship game at America First Field in Sandy on Thursday, May 23, 2024.
-
- Wasatch boys soccer players celebrate after winning the 5A championship game against Roy at America First Field in Sandy on Thursday, May 23, 2024.
-
- Wasatch boys soccer players celebrate after winning the 5A championship game against Roy at America First Field in Sandy on Thursday, May 23, 2024.
-
- Wasatch boys soccer players celebrate after winning the 5A championship game against Roy at America First Field in Sandy on Thursday, May 23, 2024.
-
- Wasatch junior Jayden Cosper takes a shot during the 5A championship game against Roy at America First Field in Sandy on Thursday, May 23, 2024.
-
- Wasatch junior Jayden Cosper (center) celebrates after scoring a goal during the 5A championship game against Roy at America First Field in Sandy on Thursday, May 23, 2024.
-
- Wasatch boys soccer players celebrate after winning the 5A championship game against Roy at America First Field in Sandy on Thursday, May 23, 2024.
-
- Wasatch boys soccer players celebrate with their fans after winning the 5A championship game against Roy at America First Field in Sandy on Thursday, May 23, 2024.
-
- Wasatch and Roy players battle for the ball during the 5A championship game at America First Field in Sandy on Thursday, May 23, 2024.
-
- Wasatch and Roy players battle for the ball during the 5A championship game at America First Field in Sandy on Thursday, May 23, 2024.
-
- Wasatch and Roy players battle for the ball during the 5A championship game at America First Field in Sandy on Thursday, May 23, 2024.
-
- Wasatch junior Cole Simpson kicks the ball during the 5A championship game against Roy at America First Field in Sandy on Thursday, May 23, 2024.
-
- Wasatch senior Tate Manning shoots a shot during the 5A championship game against Roy at America First Field in Sandy on Thursday, May 23, 2024.
Before the Wasatch boys soccer team even took the field for Thursday’s 5A state championship game at America First Field in Sandy against Roy, disaster struck.
“On Wednesday, we lost our center back when he tore his meniscus in the last practice of the season,” Wasp head coach Lance Cosper said. “It changed our whole game. Not having Caleb Smith in the back was a little scary.”
On top of that, Wasatch had another player, junior Jace Kirkham, slip on the concrete surrounding the field early in the game and have to miss much of the contest as he dealt with concussion protocol.
“We haven’t had any injuries all year and just like that we are down two starters,” Cosper said.
Missing some key starters, would the Wasp defense be able to hold up against a good Royals attack?
The answer proved to be an emphatic yes as Wasatch’s backline stood tall, limiting Roy to very few decent scoring chances.
“This lineup is so deep, so I wasn’t worried at all,” Wasp senior keeper Jackson Medina said. “I knew guys were going to step up. We had to move some players around from the middle to the back, but it worked out perfectly.”
But to win, Wasatch still needed to score — and for more than 78 minutes of action, the Royal defense was just as impenetrable.
With less than two minutes left, though, the Wasps got the play they needed to get on the board, then held on for the final tense moments to get the 1-0 victory. The win gave Wasatch an undefeated season, back-to-back titles and three championships in four years.
“Growing up, I would be shagging balls because I love the Wasatch program so much,” Medina said. “I always dreamed about winning the state champion championship. Now I’ve won three. I was here for 2021, 2023 and 2024. I’m just grateful to be a part of this. This is a dynasty right here. This doesn’t happen often.”
The Wasps had the ball in the attacking half of the field for much of the game, but hadn’t been able to quite find the right combination.
“It was really stressful,” Cosper said.
That changed when a long ball got through to Wasatch senior defender Tate Manning on the left side of the penalty box. He pivoted toward the end line to create just enough space to drill a hard left-footed blast across the goal.
Roy keeper Aidan Hart dove and blocked the ball, but it ricocheted right to where Wasp junior Jayden Cosper was charging in. He just won the race to the rebound and pounded it into the net for the go-ahead goal.
“I always find a way to get goals,” Jayden Cosper said. “Once I saw it hit the back of the net, my heart rate was through the roof. I just wanted to find a way to get to the fans to celebrate.”
The Royals ran out of time to find an answer, sparking a wild celebration from Wasatch.
“What a great day for these guys,” Lance Cosper said. “They played their hearts out. And give credit to Roy. They came and gave us a heck of a game. It was just awesome.”
Jayden Cosper said the Wasp fans did an amazing job showing to support Wasatch in the championship.
“It was awesome,” he said. “I looked over and it was a huge crowd, maybe even more than last year. I was here last year and I think it was even more this year. It was awesome. I love it.”
But there was one observer who meant the most to the Wasps. Medina said the team had extra motivation to go out and win for their injured teammate.
“It’s so special,” Medina said. “He’s one of my best friends. I’ve grew up playing with him my whole life and so to see him out of his last game of his career, it just broke my heart. I knew we’re going to do this for him. That was for Caleb Smith right there.”
Newsletter
High School
Run like the wind: Genola senior Maklee Larsen adds barrel-racing win to impressive list of high school rodeo successes
LLOYD: Great high school coaches find multiple ways to teach important lessons
