After a tough 4-3 overtime loss to Syracuse last Tuesday, Davis bounced back with two straight wins in Region 1. First, the Darts recorded a 4-2 shootout win over Layton, followed by a strong road win over rival Farmington.
The Darts cruised to a commanding 3-1 win over the Phoenix on Tuesday after a one-hour lightning interruption.
“Any lightning delays are tough because they just interrupt the flow of the game,” Davis head coach Dillon Richens said. “We haven’t even finished warming up, so we don’t know how everybody’s going to get back in.”
“I don’t know what everybody was doing while the thunder was rolling, so it’s tough at times, but they had the right mentality and they got through it, so credit to them.”
Davis had a number of chances early on, but the Farmington defense thwarted them. The Phoenix defense couldn’t hold on, and the Darts finally broke through in the 30th minute when Simone Packer scored from about 30 yards out.
Davis’ Cadence Packer (3) celebrates a goal against Farmington with her sister, Simone Packer (2), during a game at Farmington High School, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Farmington. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Farmington’s Taya Ricci (18) steps over Davis’ Simone Packer (2) to control the ball during a game at Farmington High School on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Farmington. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Farmington’s Frankie Karns (4) takes a header while being defended by Davis’ Vivian Fries (16) during a game at Farmington High School on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Farmington. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Davis’ Lydia Neville (10) and Farmington’s Kaitlyn Bennett (28) compete for possession of the ball during a game at Farmington High School in Farmington, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Davis’ Simone Packer (2) and Farmington’s Tatem Grant (2) battle for possession of the ball during a game at Farmington High School on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Farmington. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Davis’ Marlee Francis (12) battles for possession of the ball with Farmington’s Kaitlyn Bennett (28) during a game at Farmington High School on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Farmington. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Farmington head coach Sarah Beecher talks with Grace Quinton (19) during a game against Davis, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, at Farmington High School in Farmington. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Davis’ Lydia Neville (10) controls the ball while being guarded by Farmington’s Kaitlyn Bennett (28) during a game at Farmington High School in Farmington, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Davis’ Courtney Burbidge (27) and Farmington’s Taya Ricci (18) battle for possession of the ball during a game at Farmington High School on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Farmington. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Kate Willard (24) of Davis looks at her teammates as she celebrates a goal against Farmington during a game at Farmington High School, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Farmington. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Farmington’s Brynley Austin (8) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against Davis during a game at Farmington High School, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Farmington. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Davis head coach Dillon Richens talks with Lydia Neville (10) during a game against Farmington on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, at Farmington High School in Farmington. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Davis’ Cadence Packer (3) celebrates a goal against Farmington with her sister, Simone Packer (2), during a game at Farmington High School, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Farmington. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
“We were pretty far out there, but we knew it was 0-0 so we just felt like we just had to get one in,” Packer said. “I thought, ‘Let’s just give it a shot and see what happens,’ and it worked out. We got some great balls from Brooklyn (Vonsavas) and we had really good coordination on the field and I think that showed. Farmington is a great team so it’s a big win for us.”
Davis didn’t lose any momentum after the break, with Kate Willard quickly capitalising on a pass from Courtney Burbidge to take a comfortable 2-0 lead.
As the game minutes ticked down, the 2-0 lead looked more and more insurmountable, and when Brynley Austin scored Farmington’s goal in the 53rd minute, Davis realized the lead might not be as safe as he thought.
“In soccer, like any sport, momentum makes a big difference,” Richens said. “I don’t want to say I was happy when we scored the second goal, but two goals is enough in soccer. Thanks to Farmington for making it a tough, ugly game.”
Davis wanted to make sure the Phoenix’s comeback hopes were dashed when the Darts’ Cadence Packer scored in the 69th minute to give them a 3-1 lead and seal the victory over their Region 1 rivals.
Tuesday’s win marked Davis’ fourth straight victory over Farmington, a streak dating back to the 2022 6A championship, when the Darts beat Phoenix.
Davis remains near the top of Region 1 at 4-1, behind only Syracuse, which was 5-0 as of Tuesday, and Richins hopes to win Davis’ remaining five games and claim a second consecutive Region 1 title.
“We’re not 5-0, but 4-1 isn’t bad,” Richins said. “Our goal is to finish 9-1. A win is a win, and we’re happy to have won, but we want to get better and go from there.”
