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Draper • When a state tournament approaches, a team whose stars are youthful might have cause to worry.
If the regular season is any indication, top-ranked Juan Diego shouldn't have much concern as it prepares for an expected fight against Washington County teams for the Class 3A soccer title.
State tournament play opens Wednesday at Class 2A home sites while Class 3A competition begins Thursday.
Juan Diego's two stars, goalie Martin Kelly and forward Jered Mariani, are both sophomores. Both bring top resumes into the tournament.
Mariani, who started as a freshman a year ago when the Soaring Eagle lost 2-1 in overtime in the semifinals to eventual champion Dixie, has scored 15 goals this season.
Kelly played little as a freshman. But, as Juan Diego prepares to host Union Thursday at 4 p.m. in the first round, he has emerged as one of the state's top goalkeepers, recording 8.5 shutouts as the Soaring Eagle has stayed unbeaten (14-0).
"Jered was starting as a freshman, so we knew what we had," said Juan Diego coach Scott Platz. "We had a good idea of what we had with Marty and that was a position of need because we had returning starters at every spot except for keeper. We knew he would be a solid keeper, but we did not know how good he could be this quickly."
Platz said team chemistry has been excellent this year, largely because the seniors have recognized how good the sophomore starters have been.
Kelly and Mariani have both been playing soccer for as long as they can remember. Both, however, play on different club teams in the fall.
They are similar in that both are excellent students, are on the shy side and have learned the value of focusing on the game at hand and not looking too far into the future.
That might be a bit of a challenge, though, as the tournament progresses. Region Nine comes into the tournament with Snow Canyon, defending 3A champion Dixie and Desert Hills ranked second, third and fourth behind Juan Diego in the final Tribune power rankings before state.
"We want to focus on each game individually and not think too far ahead," said Mariani. "They [Region Nine] have some good players and good teams. It will be really challenging going into the state tournament."
The Soaring Eagle players admit they don't know much about Region Nine. Their only game with a Washington County opponent, fourth-place qualifier Hurricane, was snowed out.
"From last year, the only team that I am a little familiar with is Dixie, but they lost a lot of seniors," said Kelly. They have solid teams. If we end up seeing them in the playoffs like the last two years, it will be a good battle."
Kelly, who has played goalie since he was six years old, likes his team's chances.
"This team plays better as a whole than any team I have played on in my life," said the goalkeeper. "We have a lot of chemistry and a solid team."
As successful as Juan Diego has been in athletics, the Soaring Eagle have yet to win a boys' soccer title. The school is hoping that its two sophomores can help rectify this in the next two weeks.
A quick look at how the 3A and 2A teams could fare in postseason:
Class 3A
Region Nine • Two-time defending champion Dixie tied for the regular season title with Snow Canyon. Burt Myers Flyers lost the coin flip and come into state as the team's second-place team. This league had three of the four semifinalists a year ago and could be strong enough to have that performance again this year with the Warriors, Flyers and third-place Desert Hills all looking like threats this time around.
Region 10 • Stansbury won the league with an impressive 6-0-2 mark and, at 11-2-3 on the season, might not be getting the respect it deserves coming into the tournament. Grantsville also looks capable of winning a round or two, though it's opener against Ben Lomond does not look easy. Park City has been a traditional 3A soccer power, but a trip to Logan in Thursday's first round will be tough for the Miners.
Region 11 • Juan Diego is the only unbeaten and untied team in this classification and brings the top ranking in The Tribune Power Rankings into the tournament. The Soaring Eagle boys are attempting to win the school's first state soccer title. Logan's only two league losses came to Juan Diego. The Grizzlies have a good tradition and are capable of doing some damage in the tournament. Don't expect much from Ben Lomond and Morgan in the tournament, though the Scots game at Grantsville could give an indication as to the strength of Regions 10 and 11.
Region 12 • Canyon View easily won this region and has won 10 of its last 11 games. The lone loss, however, was a 6-0 defeat at Juan Diego and there are questions about the strength of the Falcons' schedule. A first-round game against cross-town rival Cedar City should be revealing. Carbon, North Sanpete and Richfield round out the league's state qualifiers. Since the teams have to play against tough Region Nine, any of those three advancing past the first round would be considered an upset.
Class 2A
Central • Manti has been the dominant team in this league for years. The fourth-ranked Templars are always dangerous at state and come into the tournament with eight straight wins. Wasatch Academy is also enjoying a good season with its 9-3 league record impressive. Gunnison and Emery also bring winning records into state, but will have to win on the road.
North • League champion South Summit comes into state with a five-game winning streak. The Wildcats only loss came in league play to Rowland Hall, which lost out to Maeser Prep for the fourth spot. Waterford, which lost on penalty kicks to ALA in a memorable double overtime title game last year, is always dangerous. Layton Christian, at 10-3 on the season, is also capable of an upset.
South • As the only unbeaten team in the classification, defending champion American Leaership is the top-ranked team and the 2A favorite. The team's only blemishes were ties against Rowland Hall and North Sanpete early in the season. Millard, at 10-2-1, is a traditional soccer power and finished second a year ago. The Eagles carry a third-place state ranking into the tournament. Third place Delta will get a test at Wasatch Academy.
West • The schools from the mostly private league don't get a lot of respect statewide because, though playing in 2A, are mostly 1A in other sports. St. Joseph, at 10-3 overall, looks like the class of the league, though American Prepatory Academy, Wendover and Providence Hall all finished with winning records. St. Joseph hosts Maeser prep in the first round and will be the likely favorite there.
Twitter @tribtomwharton