The underdog No. 16 seed Skyridge Falcons pushed the top-ranked Lone Peak Knights to a penalty kick shootout during the opening round of the UHSAA 6A state playoffs on Tuesday, Oct. 13. The match, described as a classic in a report published October 16, saw the Falcons force the state's No. 1 team through two grueling overtime periods before falling in a 2-2 thriller that was decided by the shootout.
Skyridge took an early 2-0 lead in the first half after senior forwards Cambri Condie and Alexa Blood each scored unanswered goals. The Knights, who entered the postseason with an undefeated region record, responded in the second half with goals from Sasha Castro and Makayla Zukeran to tie the game at 2-2 before the end of regulation.
Despite the 2-2 tie at the end of regulation, Lone Peak eventually prevailed 3-0 in the penalty kick shootout to advance. Skyridge junior goalkeeper Haretuku Aaliyah anchored the defense against the Knights' attack, limiting them to two goals in the second half.
Skyridge head coach Jhoan Alvizo praised the team for their performance and the growth of Aaliyah, a junior who transferred from Ohio. Alvizo noted that while the season has not been the best in terms of results, the team has improved through a rebuilding year.
Team captain and junior midfielder Hallee Sheffield stated that while the team has the talent to beat good teams, the results did not always reflect their effort. Sheffield expressed that the team will return to competition next season.
Skyridge finished the season with a 2-14 record, including a 1-7 record in Region 3 play. The team navigated a transition year under a new head coach and new players, relying on core leadership from captains to maintain a positive mentality throughout the rebuilding process.
