Brighton's Pardis Ariazand, Roy's Shay Hansen and Park City's Jordan Krieger have already obtained their main goals as soccer players this year. That being state championships, of course.
Now the terrific threesome have scored again. They have been selected as the Deseret News' Most Valuable Players for their respective classes. They also highlight the All-State teams as selected by a polling of coaches around the state.5A MVP - Pardis Ariazand, Brighton
As Brighton wrapped up its third state championship, Pardis Ariazand was celebrating not only the dream finish of a successful high school soccer career, she was thinking of the future.
Ariazand had captured the biggest prize attainable in the state. Next year she'll pursue the NCAA championship with one of the nation's best teams.
"I'm so excited about it," Ariazand said of her decision to accept a scholarship offer from the third-ranked Portland University Pilots. "I really want to pursue my career in soccer, and I think this is the best opportunity I could have hoped for."
Portland has made the NCAA Final Four three years running.
But getting a big-time college scholarship is just the frosting on a nearly perfect cake for Ariazand. The Bengal midfielder led Brighton through an impressive season that saw only two losses. One was a preseason matchup with West Jordan; the other came at the hands of bitter rival Alta just before the regular season ended.
"She plays well above the level of most high school players," said one high school coach.
"Pardis is as good as anyone in the state," said Brighton coach Kathy Kuhn. "I've coached a lot of really good soccer players, and Pardis is as good as any of them."
4A MVP - Shay Hansen, Roy
What may come as a surprise to many is that anyone other than Bountiful's Caroline Putz is the 4A MVP.
Putz is undoubtedly the highest-profile athlete in 4A soccer, but no one was more valuable than Hansen.
A lightning fast forward, Hansen powered the Royals to the 4A state title when nobody outside of west Weber County thought it would happen.
"She deserves it," said Roy coach Michelle Ophei-kens. "She's been that important to us for three years in a row."
Hansen came to the forefront of the soccer scene by drilling Provo for a hat trick in the opening round of the playoffs. The scoring continued as Roy beat Weber, Bonneville and finally East for the championship. After tallying 23 goals on the season, and 72 as a four-year starter, Hansen became one of the most lethal offensive threats in Utah.
"It's her speed and her ability to juke the goalie," Opheikens said. "Very seldom have I seen her miss. She beats (opponents) to the ball, and she's very strong. She can't be beaten off the ball."
3A MVP - Jordan Krieger, Park City
It seems like the Miners have been on top of 3A soccer forever.
It seems that way because Park City has been in more state title games than the Miners care to admit - and lost them all.
Until Krieger took charge, that is.
"Before the playoffs began, Jordan asked us what we wanted her to do," said Miner coach Cheryl Cook. "We just asked her to take over the game."
Cook's hopes were realized as Krieger led the Miners through four shutout games in the playoffs and a perfect 16-0 season record.
The senior led Park City in scoring and assists, and - most importantly - to its first-ever state championship. "Everyone relied heavily on Jordan," Cook said. "She's a great team leader. We relied on her to go out and make it happen. She was in charge on the field."
While playing away from the limelight of the larger schools, Krieger hasn't drawn as much attention from college recruiters as Cook expected. But that is likely to change with a handful of all-star teams on the horizon.
"I know that Jordan can hold her own against any of the 5A players," Cook said.