As the 1997 5A soccer tournament kicks off today with interregion matchups, there's one common thread running through coaches' minds - that the title is up for grabs.
The top two teams in the state, Bountiful and Alta, are heading into the tournament today being careful not to sound overconfident despite compiling impressive records going into today's action."Every team at this point is a danger," said Braves coach Mike Parker. "I don't think anyone can overlook anyone."
Alta coach Lee Mitchell sounded as if he and Parker may have gotten together before hand to determine how to approach the playoffs. "We're approaching it one game at a time," Mitchell said. "At this point, all the teams still playing have to be pretty good."
The Braves finished the regular season at 10-0 and snatched the top ranking from the Hawks after Alta lost to Brighton two weeks ago. Alta, with a 13-1 record, claimed the region title in the state's most competitive league.
"I think that loss refocused us on what we're supposed to do," Mitchell said. "I think it helped us to tell you the truth."
Bountiful never experienced a loss this year, but Parker thinks his squad may have benefited from it. "Being undefeated put a certain amount of pressure on us," he said. "People have been trying to beat us all year and I think we've learned how to win some of the close games."
Parker said Alta was the team to beat in his mind but added there were at least five other schools capable of taking home the trophy when all is said and done.
"I know that Brighton, Hillcrest, Bountiful and Granger are all very tough and very talented," Mitchell said. "Jordan could be a darkhorse team that sneaks up on somebody. There's some teams out there that will beat you if your not careful."
CLASS 4A: Throw tradition out the window this year. The 4A soccer playoffs want nothing to do with it.
Tradition rich Olympus and Woods Cross are still playoff forces to be reckoned with, but upstart Tooele was the Region 6/7 champion.
Bear River won it all last year, but struggled through the 1997 season and have to face the Oly Titans in interregion play.
Nobody seems to take Region 8 seriously, but three teams finished with 8-2 records and figure to be strong challengers for the title.
"It think it's a very deep tournament," said Sky View coach Doyle Geddes. "All three regions seem to have really good teams and then there's a pretty good drop off after that. Everybody that made it should be pretty good now."
Geddes' Bobcats finished the season atop the 4A rankings with a 11-1 record, but lost their season finale at Ben Lomond in a sudden death shootout.
"To lose it that way was good," Geddes said. "It will just make us stronger. It shook us up to get our focus back."