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Draper Journal

JDCHS girls soccer tackles tough preseason to be ready for region play

Oct 07, 2024 10:09AM ● By Catherine Garrett

The JDCHS girls soccer team is currently 3-1 and hope to successfully defend its Region 14 title from last fall. (Photo courtesy Joe Baca)

After a tough start to the season with the Juan Diego Catholic High School girls soccer team being tested against strong 6A, 5A and 4A teams, the Soaring Eagle squad has shown up stronger in Region 14 play. 

“We always go against bigger teams to get our team ready for the top teams in our region,” said head coach Joe Baca.

Juan Diego went winless through its first five games — being outscored 28 to 8 — before pulling out a 1-0 win against Provo Aug. 17 in overtime. Junior Piper Fennell scored the golden goal, assisted by freshman Riley Brown while junior keeper Adri Priskos recorded the shutout in goal.

A 6-2 win over Union 10 days later was the other highlight of the preseason for Juan Diego as the team suffered four more losses before Region 14 play began. Senior Fatima Hernandez Suarez recorded a hat trick and an assist to lead the way in the win while sophomore Natalia Shepard added two goals and an assist, Brown netted one goal and senior Sarah Scott assisted on a goal.

“We are in rebuild mode with having lost nine seniors and three starting underclassmen,” said Baca. “We need to work really hard to compete. Through our early games we learned to work on defensive shape and ‘first to the ball’ actions, that we can score two goals in five minutes, that we can hold off a 6A school attacking for over 55 minutes and that we need to build our stamina to get to the 80 minutes with zero goals. When you set goals weekly you will build the future and along the way win some games.”

The defending Region 14 champions, who were favored to repeat this fall, began region play against Judge Memorial Sept. 5 and lost 2-1 in overtime. Shephard had the team’s lone goal, assisted by sophomore Alexandria Wayman.

The Soaring Eagle squad defeated Summit Academy (twice) and Providence Hall by 8-0 scores in all three games and will finish out region play against Judge and Providence Hall Sept. 24 and Sept. 26, respectively.

“The seniors are having fun and doing the best to help us try to win our region,” Baca said. “The young players are building their experience and confidence. We hope to put it all together by playoff time.”

Suarez and Shephard lead the team with nine goals each while senior Abigail Harbison and Shephard have combined for seven assists. Scott has two shutouts this year.

Also on the JDCHS team this fall are seniors Ellyson Blair, Campbell Gentry, Allison Green, 

Paige Catalano, Peyton Chacon, Izabell Guernsey, Addison Hagen, Brylee Newport and Andrea Sequeyro Robles; and freshmen Isla Blair, Pyper Krebs, Tanya Arce Marquez, Jillian Pepi, Rebecca Pozzi and Ashley Pupunu.

“We are looking ahead to playing in the playoffs,” Baca said. “We have a young team, however with momentum and growth each week, this group of girls do have what it takes to go far in the playoffs. We will see if we can catch that spark and set a path of flames into the championship.” λ