JDCHS head soccer coach Joe Baca said that his team this year was determined to improve on its state quarterfinal appearance a year ago. The Soaring Eagle squad not only bettered that finish, this time they hoisted the 3A state trophy after a 1-0 win over Morgan at America First Field in Sandy May 12.

“It was a lot of work by everyone before and then all throughout the season,” Baca said. “Even to the end we as coaches were up late studying and preparing for our opponents to see where we could exploit and take advantage.”

Senior Hauroa Morgant, who put in the eventual winning goal from about 30 yards out over a wall of four Trojan defenders midway through the first half, said, “It feels really good. We worked so hard for it. It’s time to celebrate.”

Baca said that while the journey and title were a team effort, the play of junior center back Adam Green was key in the deciding game. “Adam hustled his tail off and made some crucial plays on some of their offensive attacks,” Baca said, also noting five saves by junior goalkeeper Indra  Suarjana, including one with three seconds left in the game. “Indra just booted their attempt away calmly as if it was nothing.”

The Soaring Eagle squad began the year with nine straight wins—outscoring their opponents 51 to 1—and a 2-1 loss to 5A’s Bountiful April 10 proved to be the only blemish on Juan Diego’s record this year through 18 games. Defense proved to be the key throughout the season as they surrendered just five goals all year, including shutting out each opponent in the 3A state tournament.

“Our defense is the reason we won games,” Baca said. “As much as it is important to score goals, the fact that only five goals were scored on us all season speaks volumes.”

That dominant play during the spring allowed for those up and down the roster to get valuable playing time which ended up being needed to keep rested players on the field, particularly during the state tournament and at key moments during the title game. “There was no drop off in play because our players were used to getting minutes and everyone was so unselfish in just wanting the team to win,” Baca said.

After a bye in the first round, second-seeded JDCHS defeated Grantsville 9-0 May 3 behind five goals from Morgant—who broke the UHSAA scoring record on the season with 44 goals—along with junior Daniel Gutierrez’s two goals and freshman Daniel Keegan and junior Denzel Gonzalez each netting one. 

In the quarterfinals, they beat Delta 2-0 May 6 with scoring from Gutierrez and senior Jacob Alvarez.

Gutierrez and sophomore James Fitzpatrick put in goals in a 2-0 win over Manti May 10 in the semifinals to earn their ticket to the championship game.

Along with Morgant’s 45 goals on the year, Gutierrez added 10 and Alvarez scored nine with Alvarez breaking the school record for assists in a season with 17 in leading the team in facilitating the scoring. Suarjana recorded 12 shutouts.

Also on the JDCHS team that brought the school its second boys soccer championship are seniors Jasper Abanto, Alberto Anaya, Ethan Duncan, Vlad Leontieff, Om Soni, Arinui Tahito, Emmanuel Trujillo, Diego Villasenor and Abdu Youssef; juniors Gael Almonacid, Jesus Cruz, Jesus Granados, Brady Jones, Kai Kelley-Jones, Peter Mirrione, Porter Moore and Indra Vito; and sophomores Bruno Baez, Bash Duarte and Bryson Newport.

Baca was assisted on the coaching staff this season by Matt Osmundson, Joe Alamilla and Troy Stroud. λ