Championship Heartbreak: Davis 1 - Fremont 0

Darts edge Wolves for 5-A soccer crown

By Justin Johnson (Standard-Examiner correspondent)

"SANDY -- Simply the best.

From the first minute of practice at season's beginning to the final minute of Thursday's state 5-A championship game, the Darts have been at the top of their game.

Senior central defender Steven McGrath slammed home a shot in the 6th minute and then fueled an incredible defensive effort as the Davis High School boys soccer team edged rival Fremont 1-0 at Rio Tinto Stadium to win claim the title.

"I figured it's a state game (and) we knew they were gonna be a tough team, but I really didn't think I'd be the one to get the goal," McGrath said. "I was there and hopin' (Jake) McRae would see me, and he laid it off to me and I had to take the rip."

McGrath's blistering shot from just outside the 18 slammed through the Silver Wolves' defense and into the back of the net for the early advantage.

From then on, perhaps fittingly, it was up to the Darts' defense to carry them home.

"I think looking back on this game, it will be very fitting because we won with defense," Davis coach Soulivanh Phongsavath said. "This game was just a grind the whole time. We had to it with defense."

Davis' defense has been nothing short of spectacular this year, allowing just four goals over the course of a 20-game season -- a new state record -- and racking up 16 shutouts.

While the Darts defense was shining, it's normally potent offensive attack struggled to gain traction on the massive pitch of Rio Tinto.

"We struggled the whole time. The atmosphere, the boys never really settled down or anything," Phongsavath said. "We had a hard connecting passes. You maybe saw glimpses of it every now and again, but give Fremont all the credit in the world because they were playing pretty high pressure on us. They wouldn't let us get to the wings, which we thought we'd have an advantage. They made us work for this one."Fremont continued to pressure for the equalizer in the second half and narrowly missed several quality chances.

 The Silver Wolves, who carried a 13-game winning streak into Thursday's final, aggressively fought for the equalizer as the game-clock ticked toward zero, but the Darts' defense just wouldn't break.

"The whole season they battled like crazy," Fremont coach Bryan Gines said. "When they needed to step up, they put their whole heart into it, and then they dug down some more.

"Just like tonight, they went out there and they got one down and still played their hearts out trying to come back."

Davis, which said farewell to 10 seniors following Thursday's game, finished the season at 19-1-0 overall, capturing the school's fourth state boys soccer title, and its first since 1998.

"It's the ultimate goal, and we got it," Davis goalkeeper Brackin Flitton said. "Senior year, last chance -- just to be here is incredible, and to win it is even better. It's nuts."

Phongsavath, in his third season at Davis, gave immense credit to assistant coaches Cameron Winquist, Matt Linford and Gentrie Maag for their roles in the championship season.

Fremont, which finished 16-4-0 overall and played in a state soccer championship game for the first time in school history, loses nine seniors."

From your parents, your friends, and your fans:  Thanks for a great season.  Congratulations to the graduating seniors - we hope your futures hold all that you could ever want.  To the underclassmen - we're behind you all the way.  See you next year...