Faith Lutheran girls beat Liberty in OT for 5A soccer title — PHOTOS
Faith Lutheran girls soccer coach Carl Cort said his team was a “bit dejected” going into overtime in Saturday’s Class 5A state championship match.
The Crusaders were minutes away from a win until they conceded a goal to Liberty in stoppage time to set up a sudden-death overtime period.
“I was wrong,” Cort said.
Julia Anfinson made sure her coach’s worries didn’t linger, as the sophomore striker scored midway through the first overtime period to lift top-seeded Faith Lutheran to a 3-2 victory against No. 3 Liberty to win the state title Saturday at Coronado.
“We fought so hard this season, and the team really came together,” Anfinson said. “Toward the end of the season our chemistry was phenomenal. Everyone in this game gave it their all and put it all on the line. I’m so proud of my team for everything.”
Faith Lutheran (17-1-5) was clinging to a 2-1 lead through the entire second half. Liberty (10-2-7) had plenty of scoring chances, but the Crusaders’ defense stood tall.
Then, on a corner kick in stoppage time, Ayva Jordan, Liberty’s dynamic forward who had been smothered by Faith Lutheran’s defense all game, found the back of the net on a header to tie the game.
Anfinson said Cort told the team to stay positive and focus on its game plan during the break before overtime. His message got through to his players.
Elliott Lujan took the ball to her left up the sideline and passed it to an open middle of the field, and Anfinson scored from a few yards out past Liberty goalie Brooke Kramer.
“The girls showed fantastic heart,” Cort said. “I thought we started to tire a bit toward the end, but it was fantastic composure from Elliott at the top to pull it back for Julia for her to finish.”
The Faith Lutheran bench swarmed Anfinson inside the goal in celebration. The Crusaders lost last year’s state title game to Coronado.
“It feels amazing this year to (win),” Anfinson said. “It’s emotional, too, with how we ended it last season and to be able to get it back this year and get the state title again.”
Lujan scored in the 17th minute, and Olivia Stark capitalized on a penalty in the 38th minute to give Faith Lutheran an early 2-0 lead. Liberty struck in stoppage time in the first half when Boise State commit Natalie Collins sprinted in and scored on a corner kick.
Anfinson credited the defense and goalie Olivia Petty for continuing to come through as Liberty kept attacking all game.
“Our defense saved us there,” Anfinson said. “They’ve been amazing all season. They stepped up in this game, and they took on their players and stuck it throughout the whole game.”
Cort, a former Premier League player, became Faith Lutheran’s coach over the summer. He praised his players for helping him in his first year coaching a girls team and at the high school level.
“They’re good players before I got here, and it’s just a matter of me being able to manage it right and steer them in the right direction,” Cort said. “They’ve done fantastic and led me through a lot. I’m just happy to be a part of this.”
Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.