Perhaps it's only fitting that on a team with players from four continents, it was a local boy from Highland High School who stole the spotlight for the Utah Blitzz.
Jorge Estrada, the unmistakable midfielder with the foot-long ponytail, scored the game's lone goal in the final minute as Utah beat the Greenville Lions 1-0 to claim the D3 Pro League Championship on Saturday.
"We were working and it finally came," said Estrada. "I was really proud to be the one that scored it."
The timing couldn't have been any better.
A franchise record 6,000 fans packed Franklin Covey Field, but in a sport where rare goals are the ultimate excitement, the tension built as the minutes passed. Then as the 90th minute neared, and still no goals, the fans couldn't help but grow weary.
Was it actually possible that Utah might lose? The Blitzz were by far the league's most dominant team throughout the season, and here they were one win away from the title, yet still struggling against a team that won just five games during the season.
Ah, but these Lions were in the midst of a fairy tale. Greenville upset Carolina, Wilmington and Boston on the road to advance to the final, while the dominant Blitzz automatically qualified for the semifinals with their strong season.
"Everyone said we were lucky," said Greenville coach Scott Halkett. "But we proved today that we are good enough to beat anybody in the league."
One brief mental lapse spelled the difference between actually winning and just being "good enough."
In the 90th minute, B.J. McNicol danced around a fatigued Greenville defender and unspooled a rocket toward the goal. The ball clanked off the crossbar and instantly injected life into the crowd, but more importantly the players. When a ball hits a post, there is always a brief pause as everyone stands around in disbelief. It's that moment when a defense is most vulnerable.
Sterling Wescott recognized that opportunity and collected the rebound 15 yards from the goal mouth.
"I looked up to shoot, and then I saw Kevin (Noleen) and Estrada on the back post and knew I could get it to them," said Wescott. He proceeded to chip it over Greenville's defense and to a wide-open Estrada.
"You can always count on our forwards, in the first minute or the last minute," said defender Glenn Puckrin.
Blitzz coach Chris Agnello wasn't quite so confident.
"To be honest with you, it didn't look like we would score the whole game," Agnello said.
Losing leading-scorer Fadi Afash to a first-half knee injury only added to the frustration of Utah's struggling offense.
Right from the outset, it was clear that Greenville was going to play slow-down soccer. With the elevation and heat working against them, Halkett knew fatigue would gradually wear away at his team. That became apparent in the final 20 minutes as Utah peppered Greenville goalie Taylor Tucker with shots.
Taylor proved why he's regarded as the league's top goalie as he continually turned shots away.
"Their keeper was the best we faced all year," said Agnello, with tears still shining on his face.
Since Agnello and Blitzz owner Del Nichols announced they were bringing professional soccer back to Utah, Agnello has worked feverishly to turn the Blitzz into champions. Amazingly, it took just two years.
"You can't describe how it feels," said Agnello. "You never know what it's going to be like when you get here."
It was 90 minutes worth of tension, and then one big sigh of relief.
E-mail: jedward@desnews.com