Another Agonizing SHOOTOUT!

Reprinted from Utah Rangers Website May 24th 2007

'93 Rangers Beat Unbeatable #1 State Cup Seed To Advance To Semi Finals

It took the Rangers '93 team ten minutes in the opening half to calm down after the referee's whistle opened the match. In a game considered the "match of death" by the the other six quarter finalist U14 teams gathered to watch the overtime match at Lakeside Park on Wednesday, the grim reaper tapped out the Rangers '93 Premier team to face the #1 seeded Sparta Premier team. On paper Sparta appeared unbeatable. On the field the Rangers proved otherwise.

A 2-1 pool-play loss to Wasatch Shock forced the Rangers into a quarter final match against a formidable Sparta team, the defending state cup champions. It wasn't until David Hardman beat the Sparta right wing defender at the 15 minute mark that the Rangers organized enough attacking play that resulted in two dangerous shots on goal and a second half push with two one-v-one's by Winston Sorhaitz and David Hardman only to be turned back Sparta's talented keeper to preserve the tie and force the overtime and shootout.

Ranger Shooter #1, Ryan Wilson, placed the ball into the lower right corner and Keegan Black followed with a save of Sparta's first shooter. Ranger forward Winstons Sorhaitz and Defender Parker Lopp gave Sparta a one goal advantage when they knocked both their shots over the crossbar forcing a decision on Sparta's fifth shooter. Luck prevailed when Sparta shot wide, sending the decision into extra shots. Josue Cisneros was good for the Ranger's sixth shot but Sparta answered with an equalizing goal. In rare dramatic fashion, Ranger midfielder Lincoln Salmon's seventh shot was saved, but the referee whistled the goalkeeper was off his line early and Salmon knotted his second try while Sparta lost the match when their seventh shooter went wide.

Well done Rangers '93. Now its on to a Semi Final win on Friday.