High school lacrosse: Park City, Waterford advance to state championship game

From left to right: Waterford and Park City High logos

New traditions are being considered in Utah high school lacrosse this year, and Park City and Waterford took a step forward Tuesday at the Class A girls tournament semifinals.

In front of a small crowd on a warm, breezy afternoon at Bingham High School, Park City downed Brighton 18-8, and then Waterford held off Olympus 18-12 to set up their championship match Friday. Park City will likely be the favorite in the first year of the UHSAA-sanctioned sport. Last year, the postseason was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s just great to be out here playing,” said Waterford coach Betsy Weidner. “We have nine seniors and they have been the heart and soul of our team for a long time (even as lacrosse was a club sport).”

Jaimeson Meyer scored six goals and Sarah Child had four for the Ravens, who took a 4-0 lead in the first five minutes and were never threatened. Goalkeeper Bailey Norris was pressured several times in the second half, but she turned away shots when it counted. When Olympus narrowed the gap to 12-7 midway through the second half, Norris made a nice stop and then fed a teammate with a deep pass downfield. That led to the first of two quick scores and a momentum change, and the Titans were unable to rally — like they did last time these two teams met — a 13-12 Olympus win on April 9.

“We didn’t forget that,” Weidner said. “We didn’t want that to happen again.”

Waterford, normally a 2A team, improved to 15-2 overall playing a schedule filled with schools that have a much larger enrollment. Weidner said the Ravens are looking forward to challenging Park City, which handled Waterford 20-8 two months ago on its way to a still-undefeated season.

Park City 18, Brighton 8

Amelia Livingston and Kendall Keblish each scored five goals as the Miners improved their record to 18-0.

Park City led 12-3 at halftime as goalkeeper Sadie AbuHaidar frequently frustrated the Bengals with stops. Coach Mikki Clayton said the Miners passed well and got high-percentage shots. It’s their defense, though, that has helped them become the most-dominating team in the state, having allowed just 40 goals and posting five shutouts.

“It feels especially great to be here (playing for the championship),” Clayton said. “We just need to go out and play our game. All season, this team has learned to jell. Today, when our defense let balls get through, Sadie was there.”

Grace Rappl had five of Brighton’s eight goals. The Bengals ended the season with a 16-2 record under coach Melissa Nash. They defeated Syracuse and Alta in earlier playoff games to reach the semifinals.

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