The Hive Sports

by James Tate

Confidence overcomes legacy: Syracuse ends Lone Peak’s reign

The Syracuse Titans etched their name into the history books Friday evening, defeating the Lone Peak Knights 2-0 to claim the 2025 6A UHSAA Girls Soccer State Championship, the first in program history. Facing off against the tournament’s top seed, the Titans delivered a performance for the ages, blanking the two-time defending champions to avenge last year’s semifinal defeat.

Taylee Hughes and Talia Thompson each found the back of the net, while senior goalkeeper Erin Bott anchored the backline with a commanding presence between the posts. Syracuse controlled the pace and many possessions throughout the first half, setting the tone with crisp passing and aggressive challenges. In the second half, that control translated into goals and growing confidence as the Titans dismantled the two-time defending champions.

“My game plan was to try to convince the girls that Lone Peak was beatable,” said Head Coach Jason Steiner. “We talked a lot about how Lone Peak was obviously a good team, but so are we. I didn’t make many specific changes for this game. We just had to execute what we’d been doing all year. We did make sure we knew who their most dangerous girls were, and our girls did an amazing job keeping them in check. After the first couple of minutes, we gained more and more confidence that we could play with — and beat — this team.”

Hughes and Thompson turn pressure into glory

Hughes, the 6A classification’s leading goal scorer, broke the deadlock with her 26th goal of the season at the 21:56 mark of the second half — a strike that decisively swung the momentum in the Titans’ favor. The play unfolded after a foul against Lone Peak left Titans senior midfielder Jocee Eddy reeling from a punishing blow to the back. On the ensuing free kick, Eva Christensen delivered a perfectly placed ball, where Hughes timed her run and finished with poise.

“Eva had an amazing ball,” Hughes said. “I ran through to make sure it didn’t bounce through, and it had a lucky bounce and came right to me. I knew I had to make every shot count this season, and this was one of the biggest ones — Talia’s goal too.”

Thompson’s goal with just 2:18 remaining sealed the deal for the Titans. Set up by a well-placed pass from Indy Heap, Thompson used her speed to stretch Lone Peak’s back line, then cut inside and unleashed a rocket, the Titans’ second goal and the cushion they needed to secure the title.

Erin Bott

Depth, discipline, and a keeper who wouldn’t break

The Knights mounted a response in the second half, nearly finding the net on a header by junior Sadie Stratton, only for the effort to be nullified by a penalty. The pivotal call halted the Knight’s momentum and set the stage for the Titans’ decisive strikes from Hughes and Thompson.

Taylee Hughes credited the team’s unity and leadership for their historic run.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better coaching staff or group of girls,” Hughes said. “Our chemistry was incredible, we’re all so close, and we never had any issues. That connection is why we played so well this year. We’re all so grateful to win and do it together, but we definitely put in the work and set ourselves up to be successful.”

Coach Jason Steiner praised his team’s resilience and execution.

“Taylee came up huge for us, just like she has all year,” Steiner said. “Erin Bott kept improving throughout the season and had an incredible tournament. The fight in this team was unbelievable. To score on, and shut out a team that hadn’t been shut out all year and hadn’t conceded in over 900 state tournament minutes shows just how special these girls are.”

Significant contributions came from across the roster, including Indy Heap, Sophie Martin, Carlie Hobbs, McKenzie Hislop, Brianna Brown, Abby Rizley, Jocee Eddy, Lily Young, Rilynn Bassett, Paislee Marion, and Taylor Henley, each playing a vital role in the Titans’ championship run.

Bott proved to be the difference-maker throughout the playoffs, allowing just one goal across the entire tournament, a lone strike in the semifinal against Davis. Her consistency, composure, and clutch saves anchored the Titans’ defense and gave the team the confidence to keep pushing forward.

Bott reflected on the mental preparation that fueled her standout performance.

“We knew the game would be tough, but we also knew Lone Peak was beatable,” Bott said. “Coach reminded us it was just another game. I didn’t feel nervous until we got to the field and saw Bountiful score on Olympus; it hit me how one mistake could change everything. Warmups helped me lock in and focus on watching the ball. That’s key to making big saves, slowing the play down, and staying sharp. That’s how I came up with those two crucial stops.”

photos courtesy of James Tate