Alta's Todd Miller and Woods Cross' Danny Morris, who helped lead their respective teams to the state soccer titles this year, top the 1992 Deseret News All-State soccer teams.
Miller and Morris are the MVP selections for their leadership and team play as much as for their individual accomplishments on the field."He was the catalyst for our team," said Alta coach Lee Mitchell of Miller. "He didn't score tons of goals or get tons of assists, but he was the hub of the wheel. He was a leader out on the field. He does everything well."
Miller was a three-year starter for the Hawks, playing on the 1990 state championship team as well as the 1991 runnerup Hawk team.
"He did some amazing things on the field," said Mitchell. "When there would be a scramble for the ball, invariably, he would come out with the ball."
Morris wasn't a high scorer for the well-balanced Woods Cross team, but just his presence on the field made a big difference for the Wildcats.
"Most of our opponents were most afraid of Danny because they know how dangerous he is," said Woods Cross coach Kevin Rigby. "He's an excellent ball-handler and he's has a turn and shoot move that's really something to see. He presented such a threat up front that he was often double-teamed."
Although he stands only about 5-8, thanks to great leaping ability, Morris scored many of his goals on headers, including the game-winner in the 3A state final against Bountiful.
Besides being a great athlete (he also played basketball for three years), Morris was ranked No. 1 in his class academically and received a full-ride scholarship to Princeton.
The Wildcats placed four players on the first team with midfielder Matt Cosper, de
See MVP on D2
fender Justin Kirkham and forward-turned-defender Troy Stones joining Morris on the first team.
Bountiful, which beat out Woods Cross for the Region 6 title, also placed four players on the first team - forward Sean Bromley, midfielder Cory Benyon, defender Eli Robbins and goalkeeper John Barlow.
Jordan's Khamp Inthavong made the first team for the third straight year.
Alta also placed four players on the first team, including forward Jeff Gillett, who scored 16 goals on the year, Chad Utley, who anchored the Hawk defense, and Mike Morey, who shut down Skyline's top player, Brian Alba, in the 4A state final.
Alba, who many feel is the top individual player in the state, was a first-team selection for the third straight year. He was joined by teammate Bryce Wilson, a junior defender, on the first team.
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Deseret News 1992 3A All-State Soccer Team
MVP - Danny Morris, Woods Cross
FIRST TEAM
Forwards
Sean Bromley, Bountiful
Khamp Inthavong, Jordan
Jamie Sage, Judge
Midfielders
Matt Cosper, Woods Cross
Cory Beynon, Bountiful
Ted Diven, Wasatch
Defenders
Troy Stones, Woods Cross
Eli Robbins, Bountiful
Justin Kirkham, Woods Cross
Ader Sanchez, West
Goalkeeper
John Barlow, Bountiful
SECOND TEAM
Forwards
Jonathan Burton, Wasatch
John Hartey, Bountiful
Jim Berry, Judge
Danny Johnson, Springville
Midfielders
Lance Wheeler, Woods Cross
Anthony Gardner, Judge
Adam Harris, Lehi
Tom Berchtold, Box Elder
Jon Miller, Jordan
Defenders
Jesse Esquivel, Bear River
Steve McMurdie, Lehi
Jeff Wennerland, Murray
Seth Ming, West
Goalkeeper
Mike Ward, Woods Cross
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Deseret News 1992 4A All-State Soccer Team
MVP - Todd Miller, Alta
FIRST TEAM
Forwards
Brian Alba, Skyline Jeff Gillett, Alta Cameron Court, Brighton
Midfielders
Jon Sorich, Bingham Matthias Zill, Roy Jason Pitt, Viewmont Defense Chad Utley, Alta Bryce Wilson, Skyline Kevin Baggaley, Brighton Mike Morey, Alta Goaltender Brian Jolley, Mountain View
SECOND TEAM
Forwards
Matt Smith, Alta Brad Vincent, Taylorsville Shad Ingram, Roy Carlan Reese, Hillcrest Brent Hirschi, Mountain View Brad O'Dell, Clearfield
Midfielders
Ian Dunn, Mountain View John Plehn, Alta Kris Kirkpatrick, Brighton Karl Birkeland, Skyline Coby Carlson, Cottonwood Jeff Marchant, Olympus
Defense
Derek Draper, Roy Jared Dixon, Alta Moe Agbar, East Jared Hendricksen, Highland Tyler Borg, Hillcrest
Goalkeeper
Derek Russell, Alta Doug Henstrom, Timpview