Finals Recap! And Bracket Winners!
Plus, a special deal for PLL tickets!
The UHSAA lacrosse season wrapped up this week with a series of six games at the Zions Bank Stadium! There were some close matches and big upsets played out. You can check out all the games on the KSL Sports Rewind YouTube channel, and see pictures of all the semi-finals and finals action on Hill and Hill Photography’s website.
Special thanks to our sponsors for the season, Minerstown PC and Tribal West Lacrosse. Both businesses are huge supporters of the Utah Lacrosse community, and we appreciate all they do!
We also want to thank Vessel Kitchen for sponsoring our Lacrosse Bracket Challenge! The winners of the $25 gift cards have been notified by email. We appreciate everyone who played!
Now, on to the finals action!
Boys 6A Championship
Corner Canyon Chargers vs Davis Darts
Final Score: 9-7, Chargers win
The Corner Canyon Chargers are five-time 6A champions after a gritty second-half comeback to defeat the previously undefeated Davis Darts.
Davis’s offense has set them apart all year. Their high-scoring offense puts up big numbers against anybody, and like most games, Davis came out firing, leveraging their high-powered offense to take a 5-3 halftime lead. But the Chargers’ senior-heavy defense, which held Davis’s 83-goal scorer Luke Donigan scoreless all game, locked in when it mattered most.
The Chargers kept Davis to just one goal in the third quarter, and their offense started clicking, bringing the game to a tie at 6 a-piece heading into the fourth quarter. But the Darts pushed on, scoring first in the fourth quarter and breaking the tie. It seemed like the Darts would be able to push through. Their defense was stepping up, and even without their star player scoring, they still could find the back of the net.
The turning point? Charger Sophomore Pierson Degracie. He erupted for three straight fourth-quarter goals, flipping a 6-7 deficit into a 9-7 lead in just over five minutes. Corner Canyon’s composure under pressure, honed through tragedy after losing players and great young men, AJ Leggett and Paxton Newel, and years of championship experience, sealed their historic fifth straight title.
Even with the loss, Davis (19-1) proved they belong among Utah’s elite. With most of their firepower returning, they’ll be back. We are excited to see them play next year. Will they take the championship, will the Chargers six-peat, or will someone else come up and take it all?
Girls 6A Championship
Farmington Phoenix vs Mountain Ridge Sentinels
Final Score: 10-9, Phoenix win
Farmington and Mountain Ridge had been on a collision course all season, and when they finally met in their long-anticipated showdown, neither team held anything back. Mountain Ridge struck first with a dazzling goal from Taya Chalk, setting the tone for a high-energy battle. What followed was a thrilling back-and-forth as both teams traded goals and momentum in a relentless first half. By the time the whistle blew, the scoreboard read 3-3 — a deadlock that promised an electrifying second half.
The intensity only escalated in the second half as both teams continued to battle, goal for goal. By the time the fourth quarter arrived, the scoreboard remained locked in another tie, 6-6. That’s when the pace exploded. Farmington’s freshman phenom Ellie Dorius broke the stalemate with a clutch goal, igniting the Phoenix fans. But Mountain Ridge wasn’t backing down—freshman standout Lucy Rigby answered with a slick move of her own to even things up once more.
With five minutes left, the tension was palpable and the score knotted at 8-8.
Then, in a heart-stopping moment, Farmington goalie Elle Erickson made a daring play, charging out of the box to intercept a pass. But the gamble didn’t pay off, Mountain Ridge capitalized, netting a quick goal to tie things up yet again at 9-9.
But the final word belonged to Farmington.
With just 90 seconds remaining, senior Kate Carter seized the moment. In a burst of speed and precision, she delivered the game-winning goal that lifted the Phoenix ahead by one and ultimately sealed the victory in an unforgettable showdown.
Boys 5A Championship
Brighton Bengals vs Park City Miners
Final Score: 10-9, Bengals win
The Bengals are back-to-back champions after an incredible fourth-quarter comeback, erasing a game-long deficit with a clutch 6-point surge to claim the title. For three quarters, Park City dominated every facet of the game. They controlled faceoffs, dictated possession, all after storming to an early 3-0 lead, leaving Brighton struggling to respond. Even as the Bengals tried to rally, Park City consistently shut them down, maintaining a 7-4 advantage by the end of the third. Every time Brighton threatened to build momentum, the Miners snatched it right back.
But lacrosse is a game of runs, and no lead is ever safe. Brighton’s high-powered offense, dominant all season, finally erupted when it mattered most. Just as Park City had opened the game with a 3-0 blitz, the Bengals answered with their own 3-0 burst to start the fourth, turning the tide when it seemed all but lost. With the seemingly lost game now tied, hope was back in the Bengals.
The game wasn’t won this easily, though. The nail-biting game was tied again at 8-8 and 9-9, but with just over a minute left, Gabe Carrera assisted Colk McKean for the game-winning goal. Gabe was Brighton’s top scorer this year, and with him being only a junior, he has a chance to further push his team next year. We also don’t doubt that Park City will make a run next year; they always seem to find a way into the championship.
Girls 5A Championship
Park City Miners vs Olympus Titans
Final Score: 16-6, Miners win
Park City secured its third 5A girls lacrosse state championship in five years with a dominant 16-6 victory over Olympus, avenging last season's 9-6 title game loss to the Titans.
While Olympus senior Masami Goodick was the first to score in the game, Park City jumped out to a 5-3 lead by the end of the first quarter and steadily widened the gap. Senior Lizzie Anné kept Olympus close early with a pair of goals in the first quarter and completed a hat trick in the second quarter, but despite that, the Titans couldn’t keep pace. It didn’t help that the team was down one of their star players — Lizzie’s twin, Sarah.
Park City sophomore Sophia Mondschein led the team with four goals, while freshman Natalia Szwajkun and senior Rogan Crawford each scored three. The Miners took control of the game with a decisive 8-0 run in the third quarter, turning an 8-5 lead into a 15-5 advantage.
The Miners' defense held Olympus without a full-strength goal for nearly two full quarters, stifling any chance of a comeback. With strong performances on both ends of the field, including midfield control and standout goalkeeping by senior Marcella Woolley, Park City delivered a complete team performance.
Boys 4A Championship
Juan Diego Soaring Eagles vs Judge Memorial Bulldogs
Final score: 15-4, Bulldogs win
Congratulations to the Judge Bulldogs on taking state for the second year in a row! These two teams had already battled it out twice this season, both going to Judge, but that wasn’t going to stop Juan Diego. After being given the 9 seed, Juan Diego beat the 8, 1, and 4 seeds just to make it to the championship. There, they met their fellow Catholic school players, and the game started with a bang.
Both teams put up a goal in the first minutes, but shortly after, the Bulldogs went on a 5-0 run, and after an Eagle goal piled on some more to make it 10-2 at halftime. This lead was never surmounted by the Eagles, and although their playoff run was impressive, we have to hand it to the Bulldogs for showing up on game day and finishing the game in the first half.
The Bulldogs lacrosse team’s story is not done here. With their top scorers, Rome Swanwich, Sean Jerome, and Frederick Gowski, being juniors, they should see another successful season next year. However, it will be against tougher competition. Judge will be following the path of the other 4A schools, Park City, and East, in playing up in the 5A classification next year. They will be sure to meet some tougher competition, but with their team only getting better, it should make for an exciting season.
Girls 4A Championship
Bear River Bears vs Waterford Ravens
Final score: 8-6, Bears win
The Bears came out strong, building early momentum and jumping to a 6-2 halftime lead. Senior attacker Shelby Wilkinson led the charge with a first-half hat trick, while junior Ella Criddle added a goal to help Bear River control the pace through the first two quarters.
Waterford came out energized after the break, quickly closing the gap with back-to-back goals in the first three minutes of the third quarter. Senior Anne Howard scored from a free position to make it 6-4, swinging momentum in the Ravens' favor.
Howard struck again early in the fourth to cut the lead to one, and with just over two minutes remaining, junior Whitney Spanos found the back of the net to pull Waterford within reach, 7-6. The Ravens had played much of the second half shorthanded due to penalties, but continued to battle back and make things tense down the stretch.
With the championship on the line, Bear River’s defense stepped up. Senior Hadley Carrigan took the ball downfield after a missed shot by Spanos. Wilkinson then delivered her fifth goal of the match from a free position with less than a minute remaining, sealing the victory for the Bears in their closest game of the season.
Discounted PLL Tickets
The Utah Lax Report is excited to partner with the Premier Lacrosse League to offer discounted tickets for their Salt Lake City weekend, July 25th and 26th at Zions Bank Stadium! There will be several Utah natives playing each day. Get your tickets to cheer on our fellow Utes as they kick off their season! You can find the full weekend schedule and get tickets through this link. Be sure to order your discounted tickets while they’re still available!
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