River Buechner, who also won the award in 2021, helped lead the Falcons to the 6A state title game with some pretty dazzling statistics. She scored 78 goals and handed out 26 assists for 103 total points. She converted an impressive 84 per cent of her shots but where Buechner really shined was on the draw, where she had 91 draw controls that regularly jump-started the Skyridge offence.
“There was a lot of pressure on her to perform well every single game,” Falcons coach Collin Gill said. “I think she deals with it really well. What I love about River so much is does really well both on and off the field. Academics are huge for her. She has a lot going on so to stay composed at a high level regardless of what’s happening shows just how well she balances everything.”
After losing its opener to 5A power Park City to open the season, Skyridge won 18 straight games and earned the No. 1 seed in the 6A tournament, finally falling to No. 2 Mountain Ridge 11-9 in the championship game.
“Honestly, the season was so much fun,” Buechner said. “We had a really big group of seniors and our goal was to win state. It’s tough when you have just one bad game, and it happens to be the state title game. But I don’t think about that game. I think about winning a nail biter against Olympus and all the practices and games that were so much fun. I loved playing with Haven – her younger sister, a junior, one more time. We have one more summer tournament together, and we’re really excited.”
River Buechner also played soccer, basketball and gymnastics in her younger years, but it was lacrosse that won out.
Offensive MVP: Haven Beuchner, Jr., Skyridge
Haven led the valley in points (124) with 73 goals and 51 assists. She made 65 per cent of her shots and also added 74 draw controls and 69 ground balls.
Goalkeeper MVP: Kathren Moreau Sr., Lehi
Moreau surrendered just 4.9 goals per game, facing 234 shots and making 147 saves for a 63 per cent save mark.
Coach of the Year: Collin Gill, Skyridge
The Falcons were once again the top team in the valley, rolling up 18 consecutive wins and earning a spot in the 6A state championship game.
The Champions: Mountain Ridge
Mountain Ridge took home the first state championship in school history with an 11-9 victory over the Skyridge Falcons in the 6A girls lacrosse state title game.
The Sentinels lost to Skyridge back in March, but a hot start and electric student section helped them control the title game. Paige Runia won the opening face-off, leading to an Emery Clark goal on the game’s opening possession. Clark would add a second goal just two minutes later as Mountain Ridge took an early 2-0 lead.
