More than anything, Judge's boys soccer team just wants to qualify for the 3A state playoffs.
Doing so would be a decent accomplishment for the Bulldogs, considering their league, Region 10, features three traditional powerhouses — No. 3 Park City, Wasatch and Morgan, as well as a pair of capable teams — Uintah and Union.
"The big goal is to qualify for the state tournament," said coach Michael Gillis.
There's still a long way to go, but, through Monday's results, Judge stood solidly in third place, three points clear of Morgan. The top three teams from Region 10 will automatically qualify for the first round of the state tournament, while the fourth-seeded squad will have a play-in game with Region 9's No. 3 team.
Two main players lead the Bulldogs' push for the postseason — goalkeeper Aaron Rokeach and midfielder Jason Heckle.
Rokeach came up huge when Judge recently scored a huge 1-0 upset win over then-No. 1 Park City. The junior and three-year starter made a string of outstanding saves in that match, and he assisted on the Bulldogs' lone goal.
How important has he been to Judge's solid start in league play?
"He would be the key part because he keeps teams off the scoreboard," said Gillis. ". . . He really is a leader; he's not afraid to get on the guys."
At the other end, senior midfielder Jason Heckle anchors Judge's offensive attack. He has the ability to score goals, in addition to creating chances for others.
"He's got a lot of pressure because he's a captain," said Gillis. "He's got to lead our team. And he's also our best player, so he's got the ball a lot. But he handles that.
"If he plays calm and plays well, our team follows that."
Because Judge is in the process of installing an artificial playing surface at its football stadium, which is also used for soccer, Gillis has been forced to find other sites for his squad's home games. They've played some matches at West Jordan's soccer complex, in addition to places like Juan Diego's field.
Gillis is dealing with the problem for the second straight year. The field was supposed to be installed last spring, but problems arose, and the Bulldogs were left without a home again in 2006.
What does that do to the team?
"I think there are two things," said Gillis. "It's an extra burden on our players. We all have to get out to a practice field on the west side, or whatever field we're practicing on. And also, it takes away a home-field advantage."
Region 10
Rankings based on standings through April 10
1. WASATCH: Halfway through the league schedule, the Wasps sit surprisingly on top of the table. It's hard to foresee them holding off rival Park City for first place, but the fact they're currently there speaks volumes about the coaching job of Dawain Wheatley. He's taken a squad that lost 10 seniors and several starters to academics, and molded them into a major player in the league. Offensively, they're led by central midfielder Paco Javier. GK Kurtis Kraatz provides experience at the other end.
2005 RECORD: 10-7-0.
PLAYOFFS: Lost in first round.
2. PARK CITY: Everyone's been hearing about this team's potential since the start of the year, and now it looks like they're finally living up to the hype. They trashed Morgan 7-0 last Monday and sent a clear message about their intentions for the rest of the season. Park City features talented players throughout the side. Their central midfield tandem of Reid Baker and Roberto Link is deadly. Sweeper Austin Blais is among the state's best. And others like Ryan Williams, Matt Knoop and Chase Gordon provide valuable contributions to the squad.
2005 RECORD: 14-3-2.
PLAYOFFS: Lost in semifinals.
3. JUDGE: The Bulldogs are hoping to stave off Morgan and claim third place, which would automatically qualify them for the opening round of the 3A playoffs. GK Aaron Rokeach has been in outstanding form, and, up top, Jason Heckle leads the way. As the team rounds out its league schedule, the main question is, can they score enough goals?
2005 RECORD: 8-8-0.
PLAYOFFS: Lost in first round.
4. MORGAN: This team had high hopes in the preseason, only to be slowed by lots of injuries. Still, they have enough fire-power to make a push in the playoffs. Three players, in particular, stand out. Those three are Jacob Bagley, Jacob Batchelor and Zac Cardon. Batchelor and Cardon help anchor the Trojans on defense, while Bagley, a striker, leads the offense. Could be a sleeper team in the postseason.
2005 RECORD: 8-7-1.
PLAYOFFS: Lost in first round.
5. UINTAH: The Utes harbor some hope of competing for the fourth-and-final playoff spot. Heading into the week, their only league win had come against Union. However, the Utes have been in almost all their games. Uintah's scoring has been distributed among several players — Derek Bunderson, Landon Larsen, Camron Millecam, Derek Cushing, Drew Pierce and Gunner Schultz.
2005 RECORD: 6-9-3.
PLAYOFFS: Lost in quarterfinals.
6. UNION: So far, it's been rough going for the Cougars. However, one of the major bright spots has been Owen Hullinger. He opened the season by scoring four goals against Carbon, and he had notched seven strikes through Monday.
2005 RECORD: 3-11-2.
PLAYOFFS: Did not make playoffs.
— Dan Rasmussen
E-mail: drasmussen@desnews.com