5A soccer: Davis rallies past Brighton 3-2

5A soccer • The Darts will face Viewmont in the semifinals.

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Davis • Senior Mckayla Carter punched the Davis soccer team's ticket to the 5A state semifinals with the kick of the season for the Darts.

Her game-winning boot late in the second half Thursday gave the Darts a 3-2 win over Brighton.

Carter lined up for a pivotal corner kick with the score tied 2-2 and just two minutes remaining in regulation. Everybody, including Carter, was expecting the kick to go to a teammate in hopes of a deflection into the net. Carter instead sent the ball sailing straight for the goal. The ball missed the near post by a matter of inches, and it curled into the far corner of the net, just out of reach of the Brighton goalkeeper.

"When I kick from that side, I try to hook it away from the goal so that someone else can knock it in, but for some reason, it curved the other way," Carter said. "I thought it was going out, so I was really mad at myself, but when it actually went in, it was just the most amazing feeling."

Just as improbable as that goal was the comeback the Darts made. A goal by Brighton junior Stephanie Ringwood eight minutes into the second half gave the Bengals a 2-0 lead, and it looked to be over, but Davis didn't fold. The Darts answered with a goal just two minutes later, and they completely controlled the ball and the momentum for the rest of the game.

"A lot went against us," Davis coach Soulyvanh Phongsavath said. "A lesser team, and even this team in years past, would have said, 'It's not our day.' These girls never thought it was over."

Phongsavath told his team after the game to savor the moment, but only for a minute. He told his players they still need to make that moment happen twice more.

Alta 4, Fremont 1 • The Hawks struck early and often to soar past Fremont. Four different Alta players scored goals, three of which came in the first half.

Viewmont 2, Lone Peak 1 • Viewmont's only loss of the season came at the hands of Lone Peak, but the Vikings avenged that setback with the quarterfinal victory. Abbie Flandro's goal with less than 20 minutes remaining proved to be the difference.

Northridge 2, Bingham 1 • The Knights continued their run as 5A dark horse by sneaking past Bingham to advance to the semifinals. Northridge will take on perennial power Alta for a chance to go to the state championship.