By Catherine Garrett | [email protected]

The Juan Diego Catholic High School girls lacrosse team won the Division II state title defeating Corner Canyon 12-10, marking its second title in the past four years. The Soaring Eagle squad were coached by Sage Johnson, who had just had a baby the week before.

Juan Diego

Juan Diego got off to a great start on both sides of the field. Senior All-Region midfielders Ryan Stolfa and Lexi Moratalla both scored three goals in the first half to help the Soaring Eagle to a 7-5 lead at the break. Corner Canyon scored two goals in the final few minutes of the first half to go down by just two goals and then the Chargers’ Kiah Muramoto knotted the score at 7-all with two quick goals in the second half. With 10 minutes left in the game, the score was again tied 9-9 and then Ella Candage’s two goals toward the end of the game secured the two-goal win for Juan Diego.

Moratalla’s four goals were tops offensively for the Soaring Eagle Squad with Stolfa adding three. “They are our ‘Stockton to Malone’ in our midfield attack,” assistant coach Shaun Judd said. “They are rock stars.” Also scoring in the title game were Candage with two goals, All-Region attacker Gabby Horner, two goals, and Chloe Redican, one goal. All-Region defender Kylie Furukawa, who was also recognized as All-Academic, led the way for “one of the strongest defense in the state,” according to Judd.

Judd noted the chemistry that senior Paige Cameron and freshmen Chance Srey, Caroline Arceneaux and Nola Christensen built throughout the season was a “huge influence” on the year while Horner and Redican were key with Arceneaux on the attack.

Juan Diego began the season with a loss and went 6-5 before reaching the state playoffs. From there, the Soaring Eagle squad defeated Pleasant Grove and Skyline to reach the title game with Corner Canyon.

Also playing for the 2018-19 program were seniors Kelly Blaber, Hailey Gutierrez, Hailey Hilliard, Maria Pastrana and Chloe Thompson; junior Virginia Kelly; sophomores Cassidy Azarcon, Isy Castellano, Haylee Covington, Eeliana Moreno, Ana Rico, Ariadne Sanchez, Vivian Schuman, Kirsten Sumampong and Emily Werner; and freshmen Gracie Bathurst, Morgan Dawson, Teryn Easterbrook, Julia Hettinger, Kyra Hoffman, Kelsey Poulsen, Grace Poynor, Valeria Rico, Grace Sims, Rachel Strelow and Haley Welker.

Johnson was assisted by Judd and Amanda Abraham this season.

Corner Canyon

Corner Canyon’s season began a bit rocky, according to first-year head coach Bergan McArdle, as they lost four of its first six games. “We had some internal issues that we had to deal with and a few games into the season; we had a huge sit-down talk and we started to then work as a team,” she said.

In the playoffs, the Chargers defeated Weber 15-3 and Lehi 15-6 before losing to Juan Diego in the state final. 

All-Region attacker Simone Parker, along with Maddie Andrews and Kiah Muramoto, each scored three goals against the Soaring Eagle squad, while Sofia Chieco also had one goal. Andrews, Alexia Davis and Talia Anderl each recorded an assist in the title game.

“Our teamwork during the final game began in the locker room before the matchup,” McArdle said. “I honestly thought we would come out on top, but Juan Diego played an awesome game. Even though we lost, we certainly ended on a high note.”

Corner Canyon was led this season by their midfielders Chieco, who scored 25 goals, Muramoto, 20, and Andrews, 19, along with a team-high 12 assists.

All-Region defender Alyssa Brown was also a key player for the Chargers this season. 

Also on the Corner Canyon squad this season were Lizzy Boyle, Camille Carr, Ella Cheminant, Madison Gastelo, Ashlyn Hiatt, Malori Jones, Daisy Linford, Venice Lupus, Megan Mathews, Hope Mendenhall, Emily Moffat, Sage Peacock, Maggie Peo, Livi Smart and Madison Thomas.

McArdle was assisted this season by fellow University of Utah lacrosse teammate Allison Liddle along with Maddie Ingman.