By Catherine Garrett | [email protected]

Two-time First-Team All-State midfielder Kenli Coon, Honorable Mention All-State player Kayla Milford and All-Region midfielder Willow Collins return to the defending Region 7 champion Corner Canyon girls soccer team, who are coming off its best season in school history. This year, the squad has its sights set beyond the second round of the state playoffs it reached last season. 

The Chargers are currently ranked top in the state in 5A and undefeated through nine games. 

“This season thus far has exceeded expectations,” head coach Krissa Reinbold said. “Our team quote for the season is, ‘The strength of our team is our team.’ We focus on our team and not on statistics.” 

Coon, who is committed to Utah State University after she graduates in 2020, credits the team’s chemistry for early success this season. 

“We are all committed to doing what it takes as a team to achieve our goals,” Coon said. “We have a lot of talent on this team and a high work rate. We all want to win bad. And that’s exactly what we’re doing right now.” 

Milford is playing forward after a season as an All-State defender and Makenzie Taylor, Maryn Granger, Aly Milford and Reagan Winget have also been contributing heavily this season. Senior forward Megan Astle is back after a foot injury that sidelined her last year. “We are extremely excited about how she looks,” Reinbold said. 

Goalie Haleigh Rasmussen has also been credited by Reinbold for her play in the box. “She has exceeded what we expected and has been absolutely amazing for us in goal.” 

So far this season, the top-ranked team in 5A has outscored opponents 50-6 in wins over Murray, Westlake, Olympus, Viewmont, Skyline, Provo, Timpview, Brighton (twice), Alta, Jordan and Cottonwood.

Astle leads the team in scoring with 15 goals while Kayla Milford has netted 13. Rasmussen has recorded six shutouts early in the season. 

Also on the 2018 squad are Megan Astle, Elizabeth Baird, Alison Boman, Sarah Broadbent, Sage Burt, Sophie Burt, Kallyn Chynoweth, Willow Collins, Kenli Coon, Carsyn Cosgrave, Cate Cosgrave, Jenna DiGinadomenico, Abby Flamm, Maryn Granger, Mia Hadden, Macy Hart, Maggie Hart, Halle Hathaway, Grace Jeppson, Kaelyn Kearney, Avery King, Kaytlyn Larsen, Lucy Lilywhite, Annika Manwaring, Mia McKnight, Skye Meyers, Aly Milford, Kayla Milford, Cassie Pickering, Haleigh Rasmussen, Paje Rasmussen, Kaytlyn Scott, Makenzie Taylor, Grace Walker, Jadaisha Wanhila and Reagan Winget, 

Reinbold is assisted by Bayleigh Steed, Cassity Cutrer and Andrew Van Wagenen on the coaching staff.

“Our coach Krissa believes in every one one of us and pushes us,” Coon said. “She wants to see the team succeed. She is passionate about soccer and winning and sparks that in all of us.” 

The Chargers began region home-and-away matchups in mid-September against Timpvew, Brighton, Alta, Jordan and Cottonwood. The 5A state tournament is scheduled to begin Oct. 9.