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Park City • Standing between the goalposts for Park City is a player who sees the entire field.

Skye Mooney yells out to her teammates to direct traffic and set up plays from her vantage point. She's loud, authoritative and focused. The senior directs her players as the last defender and the starting point of Park City's effective offense.

Mooney does this with a maturity that matches her commitment to everything she does. She is the senior-class president at Park City and co-captain of a soccer team that is two wins from capturing the 3A state championship. Her positive attitude and ability to balance the rigors of academics and athletics make her a natural leader.

"I want to give everything I have for my team," Mooney said. "It's about leadership and taking control of what happens on the field."

Miners coach Chip Cook credits Mooney for being the spark that has pushed Park City this season. She likes Mooney's attitude in goal.

"She loves the pressure," Cook said. "She's not afraid to charge anyone, and she comes up with the big saves."

Mooney, who has recorded nine shutouts this season, directs her fullbacks to maximize the team's defense. Her goal is to block shots, speed up the transition and get the ball to her scorers.

"I love stopping the ball," Mooney said. "To be the last line of defense is awesome, but I would die without my defenders."

Mooney always is trying to improve aspects of her game by pushing herself and her teammates at practice.

"It's important to not get frustrated when something goes wrong and to make the steps to make things work," she said.

Mooney and the Miners will get another chance at the team that ended their season last year. Ogden beat Park City 2-1 in the semifinals last year. The teams will meet at 1:15 p.m. Friday at Jordan High School in this year's state semifinal round.

"I am ecstatic," Mooney said. "They don't know what's coming." —

Mooney file

Skye Mooney scored a hat trick against East the last time she played the field, as a freshman.

Mooney works with goalkeeper coaches Alex Phillips and John Ragsdale to improve her game.

She is a competitive freestyle skier in addition to soccer. She has been competing for six years.

She would like to attend Stanford University to major in pre-medicine.