6A Boys Soccer: Lone Peak responds in big way to advance past Corner Canyon
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- From left to right, Lone Peak boys soccer player Crozier Zabriskie, Nicholas Alves, Juan Cabillas, Patrick Stevenson, Seth Larkin and Caden Shin celebrate a goal scored against Corner Canyon in the second round of the 6A state playoffs on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.
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- Characters from the “Ed, Edd n Eddy” cartoon.
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- Lone Peak’s Patrick Stevenson (11) gets ready to kick the ball past Corner Canyon goalkeeper Taylor Corpron in a 6A boys soccer state second round playoff match on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.
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- Lone Peak’s Seth Larkin (dark jersey) chases after the ball against Corner Canyon’s Walter Kilgore in a 6A boys soccer state second round playoff match on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.
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- Lone Peak’s Nicholas Alves (5) heads the ball toward teammate Crozier Zabriskie in a 6A boys soccer state second round match on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.
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- Lone Peak’s Rafael Morales (30) approaches the ball against the defense of Corner Canyon’s Walter Kilgore in a 6A boys soccer state second round match on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.
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- Lone Peak captains, from left, Caden Shin, Crozier Zabriskie and Luke Lovelady meet with officials before the start of a 6A boys soccer state second round playoff match against Corner Canyon on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.
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- Lone Peak’s Zach Campbell (7) gets ready to kick the ball in a 6A boys soccer state second round match against Corner Canyon on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.
Some things never go out of style: Cold weather playoff soccer in May, overcoming adversity and, apparently, classic cartoons.
Lone Peak, the No. 1 seed in the 6A boys soccer tournament, dominated the run of play and possession but found itself tied with No. 16 Corner Canyon 1-1 with 12 minutes left in their second round state tournament match on Tuesday.
The Knights responded less than three minutes later with the go-ahead goal and claimed a 2-1 victory to move on to the quarterfinal round on Thursday.
“When we’re tied up, they play angry,” Lone Peak coach Ben Nilson said. “Sometimes when we’re playing down or when we’re playing tied, we really try to put on hurt on the opponent.”
As for the cartoons, Lone Peak celebrated its goals with a salute to the Cartoon Network show “Ed, Edd n Eddy,” which ran for five seasons and ended its first run in 2005, or 20 years ago.
As it happens, that was the was the last (and only) time the Knights won a boys soccer state title.
“Lone Peak hasn’t won a state title since 2005 so the expectations for us are that we’re really trying to show that we can be a competitive program, even with this 20-year drought,” Nilson said. “That’s the kind of focus we have this year. We’re really trying to claim that title again.”
Lone Peak scored its first goal in the eighth minute. Juan “JJ” Cubillas set up Patrick Stevenson with a perfect pass right down the middle into the scoring zone, and Stevenson pounded the ball into the net for a 1-0 lead, prompting the “Ed, Edd and Eddy” goal salute.
Leading 1-0 at halftime, the Knights continued to create offensive opportunities in the second half. Stevenson nearly score his second goal in the 65th minute, sending a rocket just wide of the goal. Lone Peak kept Corner Canyon goalkeeper Taylor Corpron busy and forced the senior to go to ground several times to smother shots.
With under 12 minutes to play, the Chargers suddenly found the equalizer. Eli McMullen’s 25-yard bomb tucked itself into the corner of the net to tie the score at 1-1.
In the 72nd minute, Stevenson set up Cubillas going toward the goal with a defender chasing and Corpron ready to charge. Cubillas was patient and when Corpron made his move, the Lone Peak forward drilled a shot into the net for the 2-1 lead.
“I think the team responded in a way that we’ve been really training for,” Nilson said. “We’ve been trying to adjust. Giving up a goal kind of lights the fire with these guys, and they really do well.”
Cubillas added, ” Obviously, everybody gets antsy when the other team scores, but you’ve got to stay composed, and when the time is right, that’s when you’ve got to attack and get the result that you want. And that’s what we did.”
Lone Peak (15-2-0) will host No. 8 seed Riverton on Thursday in the quarterfinals. The Silverwolves edged No. 9 Salt Lake Academy 2-1 in the second round. The semifinals will be held May 20 at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
“We need to clean up our transitions and our final third play,” Nilson said. “Today our midfield was not as organized and disciplined as we needed to be. But I think going into Thursday’s matchup, we’ll be ready and prepared.”
“It’s amazing,” Stevenson said. “It’s going to be fun to go play some high quality teams and hopefully go out and win it. We’re very positive and we play quick. I think the key is just having fun out there. We’re in high school and it’s fun to play with each other because we’re a family.”
