Back to the finals: Jessop’s goal sends Timpanogos girls soccer past Snow Canyon in 4A semifinals
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- Timpanogos players celebrate with senior Malia Jessop (center) after the 4A semifinal game against Snow Canyon at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024.
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- Timpanogos players celebrate after the 4A semifinal game against Snow Canyon at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024.
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- Timpanogos senior Malia Jessop brings the ball up the field during the 4A semifinal game against Snow Canyon at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024.
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- Timpanogos senior Malia Jessop takes a shot during the 4A semifinal game against Snow Canyon at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024.
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- Timpanogos players celebrate after the 4A semifinal game against Snow Canyon at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024.
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- Timpanogos players celebrate after the 4A semifinal game against Snow Canyon at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024.
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- Timpanogos junior Raeley Searle kicks the ball during the 4A semifinal game against Snow Canyon at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024.
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- Timpanogos senior Haley Hutchins pushes the ball between two defenders during the 4A semifinal game against Snow Canyon at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024.
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- Timpanogos sophomore Yuna Han passes the ball during the 4A semifinal game against Snow Canyon at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024.
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- Timpanogos players try to block a free kick during the 4A semifinal game against Snow Canyon at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024.
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- Timpanogos freshman Madisyn Searle brings the ball down during the 4A semifinal game against Snow Canyon at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024.
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- Timpanogos junior Raeley Searle kicks the ball during the 4A semifinal game against Snow Canyon at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024.
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- Timpanogos freshman Madisyn Searle dribbles the ball during the 4A semifinal game against Snow Canyon at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024.
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- Timpanogos senior Eleanor Haslam (9) chases down a ball during the 4A semifinal game against Snow Canyon at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024.
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- Timpanogos senior Emily Begero kicks the ball during the 4A semifinal game against Snow Canyon at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024.
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- Timpanogos sophomore Havyn Carter kicks the ball during the 4A semifinal game against Snow Canyon at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024.
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- Timpanogos freshman Madisyn Searle kicks the ball during the 4A semifinal game against Snow Canyon at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024.
The No. 3-seed Timpanogos girls soccer team entered Monday’s 4A state semifinal contest against No. 2-seed Snow Canyon at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman looking to end a seven-year drought. It had been since 2017 that the Timberwolves had made it to the state title game, an eternity for a program with a long history of success.
But achieving that goal wouldn’t be easy as Timpanogos battled a skilled, determined Warrior squad t that had championship dreams of their own.
Timberwolf senior midfielder Malia Jessop had what looked to be a golden opportunity to give her team the lead and the momentum in the first half when she got the ball with some space in the Snow Canyon penalty box.
She blasted a hard shot to the left side … only to have it hit the post and bounce out.
But the ball came back to her, giving her a second look that she looked to place inside the right post … only to have it just miss the frame.
Jessop is a veteran, though, so she refused to let the disappointment of neither shot going in disrupt her game.
“It’s frustrating, especially when you can’t finish two opportunities,” Jessop said. “But then you just have to turn around and just think that I had the opportunity, so I will create another chance to score. It’s about bouncing back, not necessarily being content.”
Jessop did just that tallying the game-winning goal early in the second half. That score combined with a stout defensive effort by Timpanogos proved to be enough for the Timberwolves to get the 1-0 win and the berth in the 4A finals.
“It is amazing,” Jessop said. “My freshman and sophomore years, we lost 1-0 both times in the semifinals. I feel like this time we just wanted it so bad.”
Timpanogos head coach Robyn Bretzing said that this team earned the chance to play for the title.
“These girls have been fighting for all year long,” Bretzing said. “In some games they play so smooth and everything clicks. Today we were having a hard time connecting passes and really finding our flow. But these girls just never quit fighting. They just kept finding that way to push through and ended up getting a goal in the back of the net.”
Jessop’s finish came on a set piece taken by junior Raeley Searle at midfield by that actually didn’t go the way she planned.
“I kind of wanted it wide, but Raeley did not want it wide, so I was like, OK,” Jessop said with a grin. “I just made a lateral run and then cut really fast into the box. It bounced over the defender’s head and I just headed in.”
She added that she doesn’t head the ball all that often, so it was good to be able to get that one to go in.
Bretzing said Jessop has really stepped up for the Timberwolves this year but she didn’t have the greatest start.
“I think at halftime, she just mentally said, look, I’ve just got to find a way to get the ball in the back of the net for my team,” Bretzing said. “I think when that free kick went in, she’s just like, I’ve got to go get my head on that. I was so proud of her for fighting through that defense to put that ball in the back of the net.”
Bretzing also lauded Searle for placing the free kick where Jessop could get to it.
“It was just a beautiful touch right over their defense,” Bretzing said.
While Searle got the assist on the game-winner, her biggest role was — with the rest of the back line — to keep Snow Canyon from getting good scoring chances.
Bretzing said there were plenty of times early on in the 2024 season where the defense wasn’t cohesive as they figured things out but when it clicked, it really started working well.
“After our loss against Uintah, which was the last time we lost, they figured it out,” Bretzing said. “They decided they were coming together. I think once those girls figured out how to play together and mesh together, they’ve been great in the back. Raeley and (sophomore Paulina Hernandez) are great leaders.”
Through the defensive efforts, the Timberwolves prevented the Warriors from rallying and finally got to hear the whistle blow, sending them to the title game.
“It’s just a sense of relief (to know the game is over),” Jessop said. “Until then, it’s not over. But then you know you got past one more step to make it to your ultimate goal to win state, which has been our goal the entire time.”
Now just No. 1-seed Mountain Crest stands in their way. The Mustangs edged No. 4-seed Green Canyon, 2-1, in the other semifinal.
Bretzing said the message to her girls will be to focus on being the best they can be.
“It’s not who you play, it’s how you play,” Bretzing said. “You can’t worry about your opponent. You have to worry about your game and executing your game plan on the field. If you execute your game plan and you end up losing, then that’s OK. Focus on what you can control and you go into the game with a lot of confidence.”
Timpanogos and Mountain Crest will battle in the 4A finals at America First Field in Sandy on Friday at 5 p.m.
