Mustangs win: Woolley's Golden Goal pushes Crimson Cliffs past Ridgeline for 4A state title

Ryan Woolley jumped on a loose ball in front of the Ridgeline Riverhawks net, burying the Golden Goal in the 89th minute and delivering the Crimson Cliffs Mustangs their first state championship in program history.

Woolley’s goal came on one of the few times the Mustangs were able to get the ball deep into Ridgeline territory on Wednesday in the 4A state championship game played at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy.

Camden Squires’ run forced two Ridgeline defenders to collapse, leaving Woolley open on the weak side.

The senior striker made no mistake, picking the top far corner over keeper Riley Garvert.

“He was dribbling down, and I was waiting for that ball to come across,” recalled Woolley. “Camden was looking to hit that shot and had a little miss-hit, it came right to my feet. Just slow motion from there.”

“I was praying that it wasn’t offsides, and what a great shot by Ryan Woolley,” said Crimson Cliffs head coach Isaac Klingonsmith.

Crimson Cliffs survived two posts during the penalty shootout from Desert Hills in Tuesday’s semifinal win.

Despite being out-chanced by Ridgeline, Klingonsmith’s team stuck with it, and the back line, led by McKay Delahunty and Jamison Enfield, held tough in front of Riverhawks keeper Dade MacDonald.

“I run a tighter rotation, so I didn’t run a lot of subs, so I knew we’d be pretty tired,” said Klingonsmith. “So, the first half, it was really about absorbing and counter-attacking to maybe get a goal but make sure to not concede in that first half. The second half, then we were going to let loose and really open up to push for that goal and it worked out.”

The tired legs of the Mustangs didn’t show.

The back line turned away corner kick after corner kick from the Riverhawks.

Enfield’s presence of mind headed a chance out of play on a shot that likely would have found its way past MacDonald.

More: Crimson Cliffs vs. Ridgeline 4A soccer state title game photo gallery

MacDonald had to be taken out for a few minutes in the first half after colliding with Gabe Watson.

The senior keeper returned and maintained his aggressive style.

Between MacDonald and his back line, the Mustangs’ defense was stout all year, allowing just eight goals in 18 games, and closing the year on an 11-game winning streak.

Even with the chances and speed of Ridgeline, it only took one chance for the Mustangs to claim the state championship and repay the Riverhawks for last year’s state tournament.

Ridgeline upset then-#6 ranked Crimson Cliffs in the second round in penalty shootouts.

The 11th seeded Riverhawks went on to win the state title 2-1 over Stansbury.

“It was approached more as another opponent,” said Klingonsmith. “We play our game we don’t get emotional. But it was in the back of everyone’s mind, especially the boys who were on varsity last year and how we went out… There was a ‘we’re not going to lose it again’ type mentality.”

Woolley was far less reserved about his feelings towards beating Ridgeline.

“It feels great. (It) feels good to get revenge,” said Woolley. “We wanted this. We worked for it every day. We got it.”

Sean Ellertson is a sports reporter for the St. George Spectrum & Daily News. To continue to support his work, please subscribe to The Spectrum. Follow Sean on Twitter @SeanEllertson.

This article originally appeared on St. George Spectrum & Daily News: Woolley's goal pushes Crimson Cliffs past Ridgeline for 4A state title