Still undefeated, finally district champs. But Timberline boys soccer isn’t satisfied yet
One championship eluded the Timberline boys soccer team last season.
The Wolves finally captured it Wednesday.
Timberline edged Borah 2-1 on the Wolves’ home field, riding a pair of first-half goals from Zach Taylor and Jeremiah Moreno to its first 5A District Three championship since 2015.
Timberline (16-0-2) had secured the top seed at next week’s state tournament before Wednesday’s kickoff. That meant the Wolves and Lions (11-5-2) played only for pride and a plaque. But Timberline senior Kai Hatten said the Wolves wouldn’t let a trophy, any trophy, slip through their hands.
“It means everything to us,” Hatten said. “Last season and this season, we set out the goal to be conference champions, district champions and state champions.
“... It hurt last year to be so close to winning everything and having an almost perfect season.”
A perfect season may not remain in the cards, after Timberline finished second in the 5A SIC standings on a tiebreaker. But the reigning state champs still head to Hillcrest High outside of Idaho Falls next week as the state tournament favorite.
The Wolves showed why Wednesday, dominating possession, peppering the Lions’ net with chances and holding Borah to two total shots in the final 60 minutes. They looked like the most dominant team in the state, one that has yet to lose and has outscored opponents 85-11.
“We have so much quality on our team,” Hatten said. “But also the belief that this team has and the connectedness that we have kind of sets us apart.”
The one-sided finish followed an early fury, with three combined goals in the opening 20 minutes, when it looked like anything was possible.
Taylor drew first blood when he redirected a cross from Zayne Davis inside the 6-yard box in the 8th minute. Borah netted a tying goal on Thamini Echasa’a breakaway in the 15th minute. But Moreno, a junior, scored the game-winner in the 17th minute, taking a pass from Davis down the left wing and beating the goalkeeper to the far-post side netting.
“We’re thrilled with this win,” Timberline coach Adrian Kane said. “But we definitely still have our sights set on the state championship.”
As the No. 1 seed at state, Timberline opens the tournament at 3 p.m. Oct. 20 against the yet-to-be determined eighth seed. All seeds are set via regular-season MaxPreps rankings after teams qualify for state.
Borah enters as the No. 6 seed and faces No. 3 Thunder Ridge (15-0-1) at 11 a.m. Oct. 20.
This story was originally published October 12, 2022 at 8:58 PM.
