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Woods Cross • Three minutes until Herriman was to clinch its first-ever berth to the Class 5A finals, a chant erupted from the Mustang throng in the bleachers: "OVER-RATED, OVER-RATED."
Herriman senior Jason Ruff turned to the crowd and gestured for them to quiet down.
It may not be that Bingham, Herriman's vanquished opponent Tuesday evening, was overrated. It may be that the Mustangs are just that good.
They overwhelmed the Region 3 champ Miners in the 5A boys' soccer state semifinal, scoring three goals before halftime and earning the shutout with aggressive, gritty defense. From three minutes in, when Ethan Alexander rocketed from the right flank to score Herriman's first goal, the upstart powerhouse left no doubt that it was the better team — and perhaps the most impressive team in the state this year.
The Mustangs have outscored opponents 13-3 in three wins so far in these playoffs.
"We're just trying to keep the pressure up," junior forward Nick Franco said. "I've dreamed of playing in Rio Tinto since I was a kid. We're going to go there and give it all we've got."
What they had was more than Bingham could handle. Herriman's pressure from the start kept the Miners' defense off balance with persistent drives and ripping strikes on frame.
While coach Ryan Mitchell thought perhaps his team rested too comfortably on its laurels after the initial goal, it was only 16 minutes later before Dallas May angled a header inside the net, and only 6 minutes after that when Franco got a deflection that he was able to bury for the 3-0 cushion.
It wasn't as if Bingham rolled over, however.
The Miners got a handful of good looks, particularly in the second half. But the defense, led by junior keeper J.D. Myers, was able to cut off Bingham's offense on every challenge.
On the final serious threat to wipe out the shutout, Miners striker Leo Sobreira took a mighty swing on a shot right at Myers, which the goalkeeper was able to deflect again. As they jogged back toward midfield, even Bingham's attackers gave him polite applause.
"J.D. and the back four really came up huge, and they really have all year," Mitchell said. "They absorbed that pressure."
Having already beaten defending state champion Viewmont and now the Miners, Herriman will look to unseat the Region 2 champs Layton on Friday at Rio Tinto. The program only started in 2010, and the Mustangs understand they're now treading in deep water for the young school.
"We kind of started with not so much talent the first few years, and where we are now, I'm just ecstatic for this group," Mitchell said. "I was talking to friends, saying I want to win so much with this group, because I know they're capable of it."
Twitter: @kylegoon —
Herriman 3, Bingham 0
R The Mustangs will play for the school's first boys' soccer state title.
• Herriman scores all three goals before halftime.
• Herriman has outscored its opponents 13-3 in three postseason games.
Class 5A state tournament
P Thursday's championship
at Rio Tinto Stadium
4:30 p.m. • Layton vs. Herriman