The Miners boys soccer team had plenty of moments to fondly remember this season.
In just their second game of the season, Park City took down defending 4A state champs Crimson Cliffs in overtime. That was the first of four-straight wins.
The Miners also battled Highland into a shootout on senior night, falling in that game.
Tuesday’s second-round playoff game against regional foe and 4A top-seed Murray was another memorable effort in a loss.
Park City entered Tuesday’s game riding high after Friday’s first-round victory over former regional opponent Tooele. The team also had strong practice sessions following the Tooele win, according to head coach Anthony DiCicco.
Murray star Michael Martinez found the back of the Miners net 10 minutes into the game on a well-placed right foot kick.
Park City was able to fight hard and keep Murray off the scoreboard for the rest of the first half.
The Miners began the second half with a burst of energy, moving the ball well, and senior Tanner Pidwell capitalized with his second goal of the playoffs about 10 minutes in.
Murray continued to pressure Park City, who fouled one of their players inside their penalty box, resulting in a penalty kick, which the hosts cashed in on.
The top seeds found the third and clinching goal while the Miners were seeking an equalizer in the final minutes. The final score read 3-1 Murray.
“It’s one of those games where sure we would have loved for it to have gone a little bit different,” DiCicco said. “But every one of those players, and especially our seniors, walked off the field with their heads held high, and I told them more than once how proud I was of them for the performance yesterday and their commitment throughout the season and in this tournament.”
DiCicco said all of the team’s games earlier in the season, including some where they squandered early leads themselves, provided them with belief and energy to fight Tuesday.
Murray is 18-0, with three of those wins over Park City, heading into Thursday’s quarterfinal clash with Stansbury, also a former regional foe of the Miners. DiCicco believes Murray is so strong because of their experience, hunger and sound tactics. He also said both Park City and Murray are constantly trying to impose their wills on opponents, which isn’t always common for high school soccer.
“The first emotion that comes to mind is gratitude,” DiCicco said about his nine graduating seniors. “From them for the shared experience that they created and the journey they went on together, and certainly from the coaches for being a group that invested in the process and demonstrated coachability, the commitment to getting better and striving to be the best version of themselves.”
The Miners had program alumni on hand at Murray Tuesday.
DiCicco is proud of how the senior class represented Park City over the past four years.
DiCicco feels like the program is headed in the right direction. The Miners went 9-10 with a second round playoff loss in each of the past two seasons. The head ball coach sees strong players rising the ranks of the program who could help Park City hopefully contend for regional and state titles in the coming seasons.
“What we want to do is sustain excellence and be perennial contenders and find a way to make deep runs in the tournament,” DiCicco said. “Once you’re at that standard, then it starts to perpetuate itself; lessons are shared as we learn things across years and we get better and better.”
DiCicco believes the work toward becoming an improved team next season needs to, and already has, started among returning players.
DiCicco has no plans on stepping down as coach as he undertakes a new position with the Park City Soccer Club.
“I’m new to the club role. I still have to see what that looks like over time,” DiCicco said. “One of the things I will never do is put myself in a situation where I’m short changing the boys because I can’t give them the energy, attention and coaching that they deserve and want.”