Dismantling an inferior opponent 14-0 is one thing; keeping a humble mindset with a clear focus on the next goal at hand is another.
The Park City High School girls’ soccer team (12-3-2) kept that approach in its quarterfinal match against the visiting Cedar Lady Reds (6-7-3) Saturday as the Miners won 3-0, advancing to a semifinal showdown against Bear River this Friday at 1:15 p.m. at Woods Cross High School.
After bulldozing its first-round opponent, Richfield, 14-0 the previous week, Park City played almost the entire first half against Cedar without finding the net.
That is, until freshman forward Jessica Dancy decided enough was enough, as she headed home a corner kick taken by fellow freshman Maggie Riegelsperger into the far corner of the net with stoppage time dwindling.
Any chance the Lady Reds had at corralling the explosive Miner offense had been exposed.
Dancy, who tallied two goals on the afternoon, is just one of many contributors on a team that sports tremendous depth from freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors alike.
Senior midfielder Julia Kranstover found the net early on in the second half after senior goalkeeper Bethany Kanten played a free kick into the box. After a scrum, the ball found its way to Kranstover, one of Park City’s midfield generals, and she launched a one-time volley over the Cedar goalkeeper to put her team up 2-0.
Kranstover sees her team’s depth as a huge asset moving forward into the 3A state tournament.
“We knew what we had to do,” Kranstover said. “We’ve always known we had a really good team all around. We have good players, but we don’t have one standout. Everyone works together as one big unit.
“That’s what makes us so strong.”
The Miners were without one of their leaders on the afternoon as senior Siena Palmacci missed the game due to a knee injury she picked up in the first-round romp over Richfield.
Head coach Chip Cook said that her team missed Palmacci’s presence, but did not want to risk any major injury as it progressed further into the playoffs.
“If (Palmacci’s) ready to go Friday, that will just add another element,” Cook said. “And in playing style, she offers us a lot on the field. She’s a leader.”
Dancy would find the net once again in the 79th minute as she raced past the Cedar backline to fire a shot to the far post. Lady Reds goalkeeper Tara Shipp, couldn’t handle the velocity of the shot as the ball grazed off her hand and into the back of the net, giving Park City a 3-0 lead.
“We’re so used to it being halftime and we’re up 6-0, and we have nothing to worry about,” Kranstover said. “When we’re only up by one, it’s kind of in the panicky stage, but again, once we got the hang of it, it’s obviously no problem.”
The Miners learned first-hand how the intensity level picks up in the playoffs compared to regular-season matches. There were more than a few harsh tackles on both sides, with the teams exuding scrappiness.
“It’s a one-and-done,” Kranstover said. “It’s pretty scary. I knew we were all nervous before the game. The tempo is very different going from region play, where we don’t have to do really anything, to this, and it’s so much more intense.”
Park City will now face a Bear River team (11-6-0) that finished second in Region 11 behind 14-4 Juan Diego. The Bears defeated Desert Hills 4-2 in their first-round matchup, before besting Delta 3-0 in the quarterfinals.
Cook expects a dogfight for a trip to the 3A state finals in Rio Tinto Stadium.
“(The Miners) understand the gravity of the situation,” Cook said. “This is not like a regular tournament. You lose and you’re done, and they’ve grown a ton in maturity and toughness and style of play.”
An undoubtedly huge plus for Park City is Kanten.
The senior goalkeeper who has been recognized as one of the best in Utah has been between the posts and in the field as sweeper this season. Sophomore Skye Mooney, who is next in line after Kanten graduates, is a phenomenal goalkeeper in her own right, but Kanten’s experience cannot be overstated.
“There are just a lot of things that Bethany brings to the table when she plays keeper,” Cook said. “She’s got a ton of game-time experience. She’s just so solid back there.
“We would never hesitate to put Skye back there, but today we felt like things were going well and we wanted to keep the continuity.”
As for beating Bear River and either Juan Diego or Hurricane in the state finals, Park City has no shortage of confidence in its ability to be the team hoisting the trophy this Saturday in Sandy.
“We’re going to do it,” Kranstover said.