By Justin Johnson (Standard-Examiner correspondent)
Last Edit: May 10 2010 - 11:51pm
For both the Darts and Silver Wolves, it was a season that began with high, yet uncertain, expectations.
Neither squad was expected to sit atop the Region 1 boys soccer table at the end of the season, not with league rival Viewmont returning a heavily-experienced squad that had played in the semifinal round of the state 5-A tournament a season ago.
Yet both possessed a belief that they had the potential to play with any team, to compete at the highest level.
With the state 5-A tournament kicking today, Davis and Fremont turned that belief into reality, finishing as the top two seeds in Region 1 play after compiling the best record in each school's history.
"Words can't even describe it," said Davis senior forward Casey Black, who has blistered the back of the net 26 times this season to lead 5-A in scoring. "To be 15-1 in the regular season, and the leading scorer; to put those words in the same sentence is amazing."
The Darts (15-1-0), who will host Cottonwood today at 4 p.m. in the first round of the tournament at Angel Street Soccer Complex, have simply been at the top of their game from the first day of the season.
Davis leads the state in winning percentage (.938), most goals scored (61), fewest goals allowed (3), goal differential (+58), shutouts (13), and in the mix was a 970-minute shutout streak -- the second longest in state history.
"Last year, we had amazing talent, but I think we have better chemistry this year," Black said. "This year we're not all the best, but we're all ready to play. We're all friends, and we go out and fight for each other."
The bedrock of Davis' success this season is its 10 seniors, and their desire to finish their careers on the highest not possible.
"(Our seniors) bring this belief that they can play with anybody," Davis coach Soulivanh Phongsavath said. "I think that was the question mark at the start of the season, 'how good were we going to be?'; and they never doubted, and carried on that to the other boys on the team."
While Davis ignited early, Fremont struggled to find its legs over the early quarter of the season.
The Silver Wolves were just 2-3 after five games, including a blistering 5-0 loss to the Darts on the road.
When Fremont finally gained traction later that week, those struggles were quickly fading memories in the rearview mirror.
"We started the season out really slow, but we're starting to learn the system a little bit more and getting used to playing with each other," Fremont coach Bryan Gines said. "Right now they're playing well."
Playing well might be a bit of understatement.
Fremont (13-3-0) will carry an 11-game winning streak, a tear that has included handing Davis its only loss, into today's first-round playoff game in Plain City, with the Silver Wolves set to host West at 4 p.m. today."We just didn't give up; that's important," Fremont forward Corey Craynor said. "We just need to come out and ping the ball around, and I think we can be pretty good; we want to win this first round."
Fremont has a 30-8 goal differential, and shut out Weber, Viewmont and Davis during its winning streak.
Viewmont (12-4-0) is Region 1's No. 3 seed and will travel to Murray, while Weber (10-6-) is the fourth seed and will travel to Region 2 champion Granger.
Syracuse (6-8-2) is making its first state tournament appearance and will face two-time defending 5-A champion Brighton today.
No comments:
Post a Comment