High school boys soccer: Cyprus continues bounce-back season with OT victory at Granger
TL;DR
Cyprus boys soccer team achieved a significant 2-1 overtime victory against Granger, marking a turnaround in their season. Sophomore Julian Iglesias Madrid scored the winning goal just two minutes into overtime.
Key points
- Cyprus won 2-1 against Granger
- Julian Iglesias Madrid scored the overtime goal
- Cyprus had a losing record in region play for four seasons
- The match took place on April 17, 2026
Cyprus’ Yairon Perdomo spins around Granger’s Ethan Areiga as they play at Granger on Friday, April 17, 2026. Lone Peak won 5-4. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Cyprus hasn’t enjoyed a winning record in region play the past four seasons, but that’s no longer a concern after a big result on Friday, with bigger goals on the horizon as well.
The Pirates overcame a one-goal deficit at the half Friday, ultimately beating Granger 2-1 on a superb finish from sophomore Julian Iglesias Madrid just two minutes into overtime.
Madrid said the team kept its heads up despite the early deficit, and was thrilled to put the exclamation mark on the come-from-behind win.
“It felt pretty good cause I wasn’t playing my best game, so I made up for it with that,” said Madrid, a winger who worked tirelessly up and down the sideline all game.
Granger and Cyprus play at Granger on Friday, April 17, 2026. Lone Peak won 5-4. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Granger and Cyprus play at Granger on Friday, April 17, 2026. Lone Peak won 5-4. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Granger and Cyprus play at Granger on Friday, April 17, 2026. Lone Peak won 5-4. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Granger and Cyprus play at Granger on Friday, April 17, 2026. Lone Peak won 5-4. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Granger and Cyprus play at Granger on Friday, April 17, 2026. Lone Peak won 5-4. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Granger and Cyprus play at Granger on Friday, April 17, 2026. Lone Peak won 5-4. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Granger and Cyprus play at Granger on Friday, April 17, 2026. Lone Peak won 5-4. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Granger and Cyprus play at Granger on Friday, April 17, 2026. Lone Peak won 5-4. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Granger and Cyprus play at Granger on Friday, April 17, 2026. Lone Peak won 5-4. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Granger and Cyprus play at Granger on Friday, April 17, 2026. Lone Peak won 5-4. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Cyprus’ Richard Crabbe takes Granger’s Jose Landa as they play at Granger on Friday, April 17, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Granger and Cyprus play at Granger on Friday, April 17, 2026. Lone Peak won 5-4. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Granger’s Chris Castro and Cyprus’ Alberto Garcia Rodreguez battle for the ball as they play at Granger on Friday, April 17, 2026. Lone Peak won 5-4. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Cyprus’ Richard Crabbe battles Granger’s Joshua Bautista and Chris Castro as they play at Granger on Friday, April 17, 2026. Lone Peak won 5-4. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Cyprus’ Yairon Perdomo spins around Granger’s Ethan Areiga as they play at Granger on Friday, April 17, 2026. Lone Peak won 5-4. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Cyprus’ Giovanni Ramos races ahead of Granger’s Jorge Carranza Gonzalez as they chase the ball as they play at Granger on Friday, April 17, 2026. Lone Peak won 5-4. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
The 82nd-minute winner was the result of a quick throw-in from Richard Crabbe, which allowed the lefty Madrid to go 1v1 at the Granger defender.
Instead of dribbling to the line and clipping in a cross, he cut it back to his right foot and whipped a shot into the far side netting.
“We were trying to exploit a quick throw rather then letting them set up and defend us. He made one man miss,” said Cyprus coach Luis de la Cruz.
With the win, Cyprus and Granger are now tied for second in Region 4 at 7-2, both two games behind undefeated Hillcrest. De la Cruz said it was a huge win for the program after a few disappointing performances earlier in the season.
“This is a good one, ‘cause we haven’t been playing up to par,” de la Cruz said. “We’ve been not firing on all cylinders, and I felt like we were better today.”
For Granger, it knew a win on its home field on Friday kept its region title hopes alive, and it played that way as it came out on the front foot for much of the first half.
It was eventually rewarded for that push in the 28th minute with a great opening goal from junior Chris Castro, his 5A-leading 16th goal of the season.
Castro played a short corner to sophomore Joshua Bautista, who took a couple dribbles before cutting the ball back to the top of the box for Castro, who uncorked a worm-burner just inside the far post for the 1-0 lead.
It was the exact type of goal de la Cruiz knew Granger was capable of.
“We knew they had some very good individual players, and we couldn’t let them dictate,” he said.
At the half, Cyprus’ coaches encouraged their team to keep pressing and taking shots from distance, and it paid immediate dividends in the second half.
Just two minutes after the break, Karim Torres curled in a left-footed wonder-goal from outside the box, tying the game 1-1.
“Beautiful goal, beautiful opportunity,” said de la Cruz. “Came out committed to the game plan, shooting from distance.”
Cyprus kept the pressure up for the next 15 minutes as it pushed for the winner, but over the last 20 minutes of the second half it was Granger that pushed the pace, forcing Cyprus into some key defensive moments.
Keeper Jasper Tucker made some key saves, including two back-to-back diving saves in the 75th minute to keep the game level 1-1.
“Jasper most often sets the tone even in practice. He’s a kid who works hard and is very humble. Goalkeeping is a confidence thing,” said de la Cruz.
The entire Cyprus team came out with confidence in overtime, and quickly capitalized as it split the season series with Granger.
Q&A
What was the final score of the Cyprus vs. Granger soccer match?
The final score was 2-1 in favor of Cyprus.
Who scored the winning goal for Cyprus against Granger?
Sophomore Julian Iglesias Madrid scored the winning goal for Cyprus.
How has Cyprus performed in region play prior to this match?
Cyprus had not enjoyed a winning record in region play for the past four seasons.
When did Cyprus play against Granger in the soccer match?
Cyprus played against Granger on Friday, April 17, 2026.
