One had zero pro experience, while the other was eight years removed from calling himself a professional. Nonetheless, based on the organization's desire to find a good blend of local and national talent, Justin Labrum and Shane Jones both figured they'd make the Utah Freezz's final cut despite their relative amateur status.
What role they'd play was an entirely different matter."I felt I had a chance," said Labrum, a 1993 graduate of Brighton High School. "I wasn't quite sure who they were bringing in from outside of Utah, but locally I knew I had a chance."
"I've been around. I played with a lot of the CISL players, which now make up this league, so I was pretty confident I could play with them," said Jones a 1990 graduate of Alta High School.
Following the final cutdown in April, both player's premonitions had come true, they were on the 20-man roster. Based on what he had, Freezz coach Dave Poggi then began signing players from outside of Utah to fill out the roster.
Being an expansion team, Poggi knew in order for the Freezz to succeed, the local players would have to overcome their lack experience.
Entering tonight's game at home against Arizona, Utah trails Monterrey by just a half a game in the World Indoor Soccer League standings, and Labrum and Jones are a big reason why. Both players start and have each tallied eight goals, second best on the team. Jones is also second on the team with six assists while Labrum is tied for third with four.
Though Labrum and Jones insist they knew they had the ability, they're still marginally surprised by how quickly success has come.
"My whole life I've been able to score goals, so that's my strength," said Labrum, who served a two-year LDS mission to Venezuela after high school. Upon returning home he played a year of college ball at Indiana-Purdue, and then he basically hung up his cleats.
"In the past year and a half I basically played for fun," said Labrum. Whether it was pick-up games with his friends or simply playing club ball, the 24-year-old was just having fun with the game.
Jones had been in a similar situation for years. Just one week after high school graduation the Utah Sting signed him to a contract and he played for a season and a half. At age 19, he married his wife, Treena, and instead of pursuing his soccer dreams after the Sting folded he stayed in Utah, and joined the family business.
"I kind of gave up soccer for the most part except for playing in tournaments with my friends," said Jones. "But I stayed involved with soccer but not as a serious player."
Much of his continual involvement with soccer consisted of coaching his little brother's teams from the time he was 12 until he went to college. Now his little brother, Scott, is a member of the Freezz as well. In all, 10 of the 20 Freezz players are native Utahns.
When it was announced indoor soccer was coming to Utah, Labrumimmediately began training, whereas Jones remained apprehensive. "My family and friends kind of pushed me into it," he said.
Now that the Freezz are turning heads around the league with their success, both players are committed to seeing soccer succeed in Utah.
Freezz on Friday
ARIZONA THUNDER (4-3) AT UTAH FREEZZ (5-2)
Where: E Center, West Valley City
When: Friday, 7 p.m.