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Home > Archive > Mar 20, 2008

Boys’ Soccer Kicks Off Season
By Nissa Lamb
For local high school soccer teams, many of the pre-season games are a mix of 3A and 5A teams. The teams are working to get the players comfortable with the ball at their feet and to focus on technical skills such as passing and ball control. This season, Pine View has nine seniors that are all potential starters for the varsity team. Riley Diaz is a forward who led 3A last year with 23 goals. Pine View’s head coach, Sam Johnston, said their biggest challenge will be filling in the mid-field with players that can provide scoring opportunities. Another strong player, Francisco Martinez, Pine View’s goalie, had close to ten shutouts last year, Johnston said. 
“We’re expecting to win region and qualify for State, but we are largely unfamiliar with 4A schools,” Johnston said. “Dixie is a big rival. They lost a number of players but are always well organized, always challenging, and we wouldn’t expect any less. Snow Canyon has a strong club team and has a new turf field. We have to be ready every week.”
Dixie High School’s girls’ coach Burt Meyers will take over as the head coach for the boys’ team this year. Athletic Director Mike Blair said that Coach Meyers is very knowledgeable in soccer. 
“He always does an excellent job with the girls, and we expect the same with the boys,” Blair said. “The number-one focus is academics, and athletics comes second. We expect a lot from our student athletes.”

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