West’s Isaiah Suesue (15) runs previous Roy’s Alex Johnson (26) throughout a highschool soccer recreation Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, at West Excessive College in Salt Lake Metropolis. Shafkat Anowar, Deseret Information
All through the highschool soccer preseason, it’s quite common for Utah groups to face an out-of-state opponent. In actual fact, there are 50 video games on faucet this season that function Utah groups vs. out-of-state groups.
A few of these cross-state video games kick off this Friday in Week 2, and there’s positively a distinct vibe to a number of the video games than in previous years.
Most notably is West Excessive College’s journey Santa Ana, Calif., the place it can tackle Mater Dei Excessive College, the No. 2 ranked crew within the nation in line with MaxPreps.
“The crew is happy for the chance to play Mater Dei. We all know who we’re taking part in and have a number of respect for them however for our West neighborhood this can be a enormous alternative that we couldn’t move up,” mentioned West coach Olossa Solovi.
West rolled previous Clearfield in its season opener final week, whereas Mater Dei might be taking part in its first recreation of the season.
That is Solovi’s fourth season as head coach, and with this system coming off back-to-back area titles he’s making an attempt to assist this system take the following step in competitiveness.
“We’ve been making an attempt to take the following step in our program and felt a recreation in opposition to a nationwide energy would put together us for a possibility to make a run within the playoffs. Mater Dei mentioned they might be open to taking part in this 12 months if we may decide to it early within the 12 months. We knew that this may be a troublesome recreation however once more the chance for our boys to be on this stage was one we needed for our neighborhood,” mentioned Solovi.
Nook Canyon’s journey to Las Vegas on Friday to face juggernaut Bishop Gorman, nevertheless, is the actually the marquee recreation of the night time, or arguably the season. Bishop Gorman is ranked No. 1 in Nevada whereas Nook Canyon checks in at No. 2 within the Deseret Information rankings.
Bishop Gorman has but to play a recreation this season, whereas the Chargers actually needs to be extra polished after routing Herriman in Week 1 final week, 45-7.
“Our crew is basically excited in regards to the alternative to compete with one of many prime groups within the nation. Our children are prepared for the problem. Bishop Gorman has a tremendous custom of success,” mentioned Kjar.
This would be the Nook Canyon’s first recreation in opposition to an out-of-state crew within the temporary 10-year historical past of the Draper college. For coach Kjar, this might be his first recreation teaching in opposition to an out-of-state crew since his Jordan crew confronted Cherry Creek, Colo. in 2015.
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Of the 9 video games that includes out-of-state groups, Nook Canyon’s is certainly one of 5 in opposition to Nevada faculties. Snow Canyon and Orem each face superb opponents.
Orem hosts Desert Pines, Nev., at present ranked fifth within the state. The groups performed in Nevada a 12 months in the past, with the Tigers shedding 53-42.
It’s a recreation this 12 months’s crew hasn’t forgot about.
“Undoubtedly seeking to return the favor. Too many errors and undisciplined soccer first go-around. Guys are excited for the chance to play one other high-caliber crew this week and they're taking this one private,” mentioned Orem coach Gabe Sewell.
Snow Canyon travels to Las Vegas to face Arbor View, at present ranked fifth in Nevada.
The Warriors are coming off a 48-7 win over Northridge within the opening week, and hungry to face harder competitors.
“We work to method every recreation & opponent the identical however we additionally perceive every crew brings distinctive challenges. We're an athletic crew with a number of crew pace. This might be an excellent check for the way we stack up pace clever with Arbor View. We additionally see some measurement significantly on their D-line. They've some extremely touted expertise that's getting recruited. Our guys actually look ahead to exhibiting what Utah highschool soccer can do outdoors of our state in opposition to a extremely ranked Nevada crew,” mentioned Snow Canyon coach Mike Esplin.
“We wish to check ourselves on a nationwide stage. We consider we've school prospects in our program that deserve the chance to be recruited & play school soccer. It is a nice likelihood to point out up that means.”
Snow Canyon’s final recreation in opposition to an out-of-state crew was in 2019 when it hosted and beat Shadow Ridge, Nev., 31-27.
“Our focus is on controlling on the highest stage every little thing we will. Effort, hustle, teamwork, working to the soccer on protection, gang tackling, blocking by way of the whistle on offense, working by way of tackles and being extra coordinated than them. Doing issues proper as items persistently higher. We'll give an entire effort.”