High school soccer: Ravens inch closer to title aspirations

SANDY — Waterford lost the 2010 girls soccer championship game to St. Joseph in a shootout. It will get an opportunity to avenge that loss Saturday morning after a dominant semifinal performance against underdog Millard.

Backed by first half goals from freshmen Grace Sponagle and Caroline Coats, as well as a goal from senior Jamie Duke, the Ravens rolled into the 2A championship game with a 3-0 victory at Jordan High School.

Waterford and St. Joseph, which beat Manti in the other 2A semifinal, will meet at Rio Tinto Stadium at 11 a.m. Saturday.

"It's been our goal all season to make it to the finals and win, so hope we can finish that (today)," said Duke, who also added an assist on Sponagle's 21st minute goal that gave Waterford the lead.

St. Joseph already beat Waterford twice this season in region play, and the Ravens approached Friday's semifinal as a tune-up for the expected rematch.

"We talked a lot about generating a very fast pace 'cause that's what we're expecting (today), regardless of if they did or not," said Waterford coach Tim Dolbin. "You saw a lot of one-, two-touch passing, particularly in the first half, 'cause we wanted that pace blistering fast."

Millard had a difficult time keeping up with the fast pace.

After Sponagle headed home her second goal of the season in the 21st minute to give Waterford the 1-0 lead, there was a noticeable drop-off from a disheartened Millard team. Three minutes later, Coats doubled the lead with a calm breakaway finish, her team-leading 17th goal of the season.

Duke made it 3-0 in the 33rd minute as she buried a shot unmarked from about 12 yards out.

For a team that started the year dropping four of its first five games facing a difficult schedule, Waterford is certainly playing well down the stretch. A big reason for the improvement is the continued development of freshmen starters Coats, Sponagle and Emi Anderson.

"It was hard at the start 'cause we weren't used to playing with the younger girls and they didn't know our style, but after practicing a lot and preseason games we got each other's playing down and knew how to pass it to each other," said Duke.

ST. JOSEPH 2, MANTI 0: Jane Porter scored a goal in each half as the defending 1A champions advanced to the final with a dominant victory over Manti.

The Jayhawks controlled possession throughout the game, but didn't score its first goal until the 38th minute after it was denied by the post and the crossbar in the first half.

Porter doubled St. Joseph's lead in the 66th minute by redirecting a centering pass near the corner flag just under the crossbar.

St. Joseph midfielder Joanna Matajasik injured her ankle in the final two minutes of the match and was carried off the field. Her status for the final is questionable.

email: jedward@desnews.com