American Heritage players celebrate after the 2A state semifinal game Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald
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American Heritage players celebrate with supporters after the 2A state semifinal game Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald
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American Heritage junior Cael Tillman, 17, crosses during a 2A state semifinal game against Maser on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald
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American Heritage players celebrate after junior Luke Stratton (center) scores a goal against Maser in the 2A state semifinals Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald
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American Heritage players celebrate after the 2A state semifinal game Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald
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American Heritage keeper Weston Larson retrieves the ball during the 2A state semifinal game against Maser on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald
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American Heritage junior Will Sanders, 29, takes a pass from Macer senior Aidan Simmons during a 2A state semifinal game Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman. tried to prevent it.
Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald
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American Heritage players celebrate after scoring a goal in the 2A state semifinal game against Maser on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald
9/19
Maser keeper flicks the ball away during a 2A state semifinal game against American Heritage on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald
10/19
Maser takes a shot during the 2A state semifinal game against American Heritage on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald
11/19
American Heritage keeper XXXXX deflects the ball during a 2A state semifinal game against Maser on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald
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American Heritage senior Lorenzo Cisneros, 32, kicks a ball during the 2A state semifinal game against Maser on Thursday, May 9, 2024 at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald
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American Heritage players celebrate after junior Luke Stratton (second from left) scores a goal in the 2A state semifinal game against Maser on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman. Tachi.
Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald
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Maser senior Micah Autry, 22, heads the ball away during the 2A state semifinal game against American Heritage on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman. .
Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald
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American Heritage junior Cael Tillman (17) dribbles past a sliding Maser defender during a 2A state semifinal game Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald
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American Heritage and Maser players attempt to head the ball during a 2A state semifinal game Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald
17/19
A Maser defender deflects the ball during a 2A state semifinal game against American Heritage on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald
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American Heritage senior Kyle Mena, 22, takes a header during a 2A state semifinal game against Maser on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald
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Maser players hold back their emotions after losing a 2A state semifinal game Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald
❮ ❯
American Heritage players celebrate after the 2A state semifinal game Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
American Heritage players celebrate with supporters after the 2A state semifinal game Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
American Heritage junior Cael Tillman, 17, crosses during a 2A state semifinal game against Maser on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
American Heritage players celebrate after junior Luke Stratton (center) scores a goal against Maser in the 2A state semifinals Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
American Heritage players celebrate after the 2A state semifinal game Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
American Heritage keeper Weston Larson retrieves the ball during the 2A state semifinal game against Maser on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
American Heritage junior Will Sanders, 29, takes a pass from Macer senior Aidan Simmons during a 2A state semifinal game Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman. tried to prevent it.
American Heritage players celebrate after scoring a goal in the 2A state semifinal game against Maser on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
Maser keeper flicks the ball away during a 2A state semifinal game against American Heritage on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
Maser takes a shot during the 2A state semifinal game against American Heritage on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
American Heritage keeper XXXXX deflects the ball during a 2A state semifinal game against Maser on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
American Heritage senior Lorenzo Cisneros, 32, kicks a ball during the 2A state semifinal game against Maser on Thursday, May 9, 2024 at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
American Heritage players celebrate after junior Luke Stratton (second from left) scores a goal in the 2A state semifinal game against Maser on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman. Tachi.
Maser senior Micah Autry, 22, heads the ball away during the 2A state semifinal game against American Heritage on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman. .
American Heritage junior Cael Tillman (17) dribbles past a sliding Maser defender during a 2A state semifinal game Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
American Heritage and Maser players attempt to head the ball during a 2A state semifinal game Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
A Maser defender deflects the ball during a 2A state semifinal game against American Heritage on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
American Heritage senior Kyle Mena, 22, takes a header during a 2A state semifinal game against Maser on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
Maser players hold back their emotions after losing a 2A state semifinal game Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
American Heritage junior midfielder Luke Stratton was ready to celebrate.
Late in the first half of Thursday's 2A state boys soccer semifinal against rival Maser, Stratton was photographed returning to the center field line and raising his hands as the Patriots had a golden scoring opportunity. .
The case didn't turn out in American Heritage's favor beyond the disconnect, but Stratton raised his hand in celebration at two other important moments as well.
First, he took a brilliant left-footed free kick from 30 yards on the right side of the field, which landed perfectly on target and gave the Patriots the lead.
The second time was even better. The final whistle sounded as American Heritage cruised to a 3-0 victory over the Lions, clinching a ticket to the 2A state title game.
“This means everything,” Stratton said. “We've been working towards this all season and we want it. That's what we came here for. It would be great to win and go to the championship.”
He said he knew it wouldn't be easy against Maser, whom the Patriots defeated 3-2 earlier in the season.
“We've played them a lot and it's been a close game a lot of times,” Stratton said. “We knew we could beat them. We came out and wanted it. We lost in the semifinals the last two years, so we wanted to win this year. I was very excited to play against him.”
The game looked to be going in the same direction as both teams performed well in the first half, but neither team was able to put the ball in the net.
American Heritage head coach Stephen Blake said the message to his team at halftime was to stay the course and keep the energy up.
“We told them to stick to the game plan,” Blake said. “Press them, make them make mistakes, take the ball away, go score. Push them over and over again. Don't let them settle down.”
In this type of game, the team that scores first often receives a big boost.
In this case, it was Stratton who gave the Patriots a free kick after American Heritage earned a free kick early in the second half inside the Lions' half of the field.
“I decided to line up and go for the back of the net,” Stratton said. “I wanted to score. I saw where the keepers lined up and knew where to put them. I got the result I wanted.”
Coach Blake said the team knew it could be an opportunity and had worked hard on set pieces.
“(Stratton) has already scored goals like that twice this season,” Blake said. “We just told him that when you get pushed this far, he just pushes harder than he thinks he needs to.”
The Patriot attack was now in full swing. High pressure and an aggressive mentality led to goals from junior Kael Tillman and senior Niwahai Winitana to end the game.
The American legacy needed to get the win was all that combined with a great defensive effort.
“I knew the goal was coming, I knew it was going to be scored,” Stratton said. “We wanted to stay calm and be ready. Our defense is very solid, so we knew we would get a goal at some point.”
While Maser was certainly disappointed in not being able to return to the 2A championship for the second year in a row, head coach Dustin Simmons couldn't have been more proud of his team.
“I actually think this year's team is better than last year,” Simmons said. “This season has been really great. We have a group of 10 fourth graders on our team this year, but most of them started in seventh grade. For those boys, six years of soccer has come to an end today. They went on to have great careers.”
He said the group laid a foundation that the underclassmen hope to continue with.
“Our team wasn't good when they started,” Simmons said. “This group set an example in establishing not only the caliber of the team, but a culture that will be passed on to the next group. I know.”
With the Lions' season coming to an end, American Heritage has its first chance at a championship, facing Roland Hall in the title game.
That game will be played at noon Saturday at American First Field in Sandy.
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