Prep soccer: Bengal seniors refuse to look back
Photo by Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune American Fork's Isaac Litster (15) and Brighton's James Carrigan (5) go for the ball during the game at Cottonwood Heights soccer complex Tuesday March 22, 2011.
There they stood, Brighton’s five senior leaders, shoulder to shoulder in a semicircle, a virtually impenetrable wall turning back questions as if they were crossing passes deep in their defensive zone.
Surely these guys find motivation and inspiration from last year’s upset loss in overtime to Murray in the quarterfinals of the Class 5A state playoffs.
That score, that headline — something — has to be pinned to the wall in the locker room, a daily reminder of what could have been and what not to let happen again.
Right?
Think again. These seniors — Aaron Stoddard, Matt Fritzsche, James Carrigan, Josh Hicks and Connor Coletti — wouldn’t budge.
“It hurt when it happened,” Carrigan said. “But it’s over and we’re focused on this season. It’s 100 percent forward from here.”
Added Coletti: “Almost every day at school when we talk about Brighton soccer, the students immediately talk about the Murray game. But it’s definitely behind us and we’re moving forward.”
So much for that theory. Clearly, this is a team that isn’t looking back. It’s a new season, with a new goal — the Bengals’ third state title in four years.
Brighton entered the week undefeated on the young season, picking up where it left off in the regular season in 2010 when it entered the playoffs with a 14-1 record.
The Bengals lost top scorer Thomas Loomis (14 goals) to graduation, but return four starters. This year’s group claims to be a little more close-knit and one that has bought in to the team concept.
“I think the loss last year helped us recognize what was wrong with the team,” said Hicks, who scored a goal in Brighton’s season-opening victory against Copper Hills last week. “It was a lot more about individuals. This year, it’s about team.”
Coach Russ Boyer smiled when hearing his players’ responses to questions about the disappointing end to last season.
“I’m proud,” Boyer said. “The group of seniors is great. They are a talented group, but they are a character group and they are great leaders for us.
“I think they learned a lesson from [the loss] — that they don’t want to look back and wonder ‘what if’ this year.”
Boyer said this year’s team may not quite have the talent of a season ago, but the attitude and hard work the Bengals have shown two weeks into the season will make up for any loss of talent.
“I’ve seen a lot of unity and a lot of unselfishness, which is great to see,” said Boyer.
Brighton’s goal remains the same — to carry on the tradition of success the Bengals have established over the past decade. Brighton has played in four of the past seven state finals, and has reached the second round of the playoffs each of the past eight years.
“I feel like we have the talent and the work ethic and we have a lot of heart,” said Stoddard, the starting goalkeeper. “Everyone’s on the same page working, getting better every day.”
Added Fritzsche: “We definitely have a lot of potential. I think if we can keep up the work ethic we have had the past couple of weeks, we can be good.”
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3 comments:
WOW! So cool! We'll see you at the game Friday!
So proud of my oldest grandson!!!!!!!!!!!!!
James has sexy legs. Not kidding.
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