The Hive Sports

by James Tate

In a tense semifinal clash between Region 1 rivals, the Syracuse Titans held off the Davis Darts 2-1 to punch their ticket to the 6A girls soccer state championship match. The victory, played under clear skies at Zions Bank Stadium, marked the Titans’ third win over Davis this season, two in region play and now a decisive playoff triumph.

Senior forward Indy Heap opened the scoring for the Titans at the 22:24 mark of the first half, pouncing on a rebound after Davis goalkeeper Kaitlyn Harris made a diving save on a shot from Talia Thompson. Heap reacted quickly, slotting the ball into the net to give Syracuse an early 1-0 lead and set the tone for the match.

Midfielders Jocee Eddy, Taylor Henley, and Rilynn Bassett controlled possession and distributed with precision, while forwards Paislee Marion, Heap, and Thompson continued to press the Darts’ back line. Their combined effort resulted in a flurry of shots and sustained time on the Darts’ half of the field, keeping Davis’ defense on its heels throughout the first half.

Jocee Eddy

Darts rally late, but Titans stand tall

The Titans doubled their lead early in the second half on a dramatic penalty kick from Hughes. Her shot struck the underside of the crossbar, ricocheted down toward the goal line, and spun backward into the net behind Harris. The sequence left fans holding their breath before erupting in celebration, as Syracuse took a 2-0 lead and tightened its grip on the match with 21:21 left in the game.

The Darts responded quickly. Just four minutes later, junior Kate Willard broke through the Titans’ back line and buried a shot at 17:07, cutting the deficit to 2-1 and igniting a late surge from the Darts.

But Syracuse’s defense held firm. Anchored by senior goalkeeper Erin Bott and a disciplined back line featuring Sophie Martin, Eva Christensen, and McKenzie Hislop, the Titans turned away multiple Davis attacks. They held on to the lead through the final whistle.

“During the second half, we knew we couldn’t let down, Davis was going to come out even harder,” Bott said. “I was a little nervous because I was looking straight into the sun. Once we scored again, they pushed more players up, and the last 15 minutes there were so many people on our half. Their plan worked, and with a bunch of players in the box, they were able to score. It got really intense. I knew what my job was and that I only had to hold them for 10 more minutes. I trusted my defense and knew they trusted me. We knew their key players and kept them marked.”

Eddy praised the team’s unity and effort.

“This game was all about hard work, keeping a positive attitude, and never giving up,” Eddy said. “We stayed locked in, brought energy from start to finish, and it paid off, finding the runs, winning the balls, and getting it done together. Erin held it down, defending the goal; the defense was locked; the midfield stayed marked and composed; and the forwards ran hard. Everyone stepped up and made it happen.”

Erin Bott

Syracuse seeks payback against Lone Peak

With the win, Syracuse advances to the 6A state championship game, where they’ll face the Lone Peak Knights, defending champions and the team that edged them out in last year’s semifinals. For Titans Head Coach Jason Steiner, the journey to this point has been one of resilience and redemption.

“Super proud of this group of girls!” Steiner said. “They have risen to every challenge presented to them. The last few games have felt like a little redemption… winning the region… beating the only team that beat us in regulation, Corner Canyon… last season’s semifinal loss. And now we have one last thing to accomplish.”

Steiner praised individual efforts while emphasizing the team’s unity.

“Bott was huge for us, especially in that sun. Taylee got back on top of the 6A leaderboard. Talia Thompson never quit running. We knew Davis would throw everything at us, and we were able to weather the storm when we needed to. Our back line is just fun to watch, also. One more game of redemption left… last year’s final game. The girls will be ready.”

The Darts’ season ends with another deep playoff run after reaching the finals last season. Outstanding effort from the Darts team, including Harris, Willard, Lexie Barnes, Makenna Couser, Reial Phongsavath, Lily Griffin, and Courtney Burbidge.

A great game and season from Darts’ Lola Martineau, Avery Johnson, Marley Francis, and Samantha Maudsley

photos courtesy of James Tate