Sarah Ause, Deseret Morning News
Team concept - MVP's made their squads championship-caliber
by Michael Black, Deseret Morning News
Scoring goals, setting up teammates, keeping a defense organized or initiating the attack. All are important parts of a successful soccer team, and all were the qualities that made this year's Deseret Morning News MVPs the most important players in their respective team's title runs.
5A: Megan Ohai, Alta
Before Alta's championship game against Lone Peak, Hawks coach Lee Mitchell said he noticed something special in his star forward, senior Megan Ohai.
"I saw it in Megan's eyes," he said. "There was just no way she was going to let this chance go by. She was determined that this was going to be our championship."
After Alta fell behind by two goals early, Ohai personally brought the team back by scoring on a header and a brilliant strike from just inside the penalty area. Ohai continued the scoring exhibition in the second half with the go-ahead and insurance goals only minutes apart to cap Alta's perfect 20-0 season with a state championship.
"I don't know how to describe it," she said after the game. "This is just the best team ever to play with. My teammates set me up, and I just hit the shots where they needed to go."
It was a relationship that was mutually beneficial. Ohai received plenty of good passes from her team and scored 26 goals on the year, but she was quick to dish it out as well. Although she played forward, Ohai was used to initiate the offense, often coming back to get the ball. She excelled at collecting the ball with her back to the goal and either making a pass or turning herself. Her passing abilities resulted in 18 assists. Ohai was involved in 44 of the Hawks' classification-high 95 goals.
"We expect a lot of Megan," Mitchell said early in the year. "We expect her to score goals, but it is more than that. She is a leader and needs to do it by what she does on the field. She needs to be an example."
Ohai's enthusiasm was contagious. She was a fierce competitor, but it was hard to miss something else about her while playing — her smile.
"Playing soccer is just fun," she said. "This team is just a bunch of good friends having fun out there. Playing high school soccer is all about being with your good friends and having fun doing it. I love it."
Of course, it is a lot more fun when the team is winning. With Ohai leading the way, that's what Alta did, finishing undefeated and ranked No. 2 in the country.
4A: Christine Quinn, Bountiful
Bountiful coach Dave Wigham has said the past couple of years that if the other team doesn't score, it can't win. The Braves have used that defensive philosophy to win two of the past four state titles, and this year's defense was as good as any the previous Braves teams had.
Senior sweeper Christine Quinn was the leader of that defense, which gave up only one goal in four playoff games on its way to a championship.
"Having someone like Christine in front of you gives you all the confidence in the world," said Braves goalie Molli Merrill. "She was so good that there were times I almost wished I could get a little more action."
Bountiful was the preseason favorite to win the state title but had an up-and-down regular season. One reason for the inconsistency was Quinn's absence. She hurt her knee and missed a few games. While she was out, both the defense and offense suffered.
"When Christine was out, we had to shuffle people around," said Wigham. "We had to move one of our best scorers back to the defense, so not only were we not as good defensively, but we weren't scoring as much as well."
With Quinn back, the Braves marched through the playoffs, giving up just one meaningless goal in a 10-1 rout of Provo.
"I don't know that it is me," said the humble Quinn. "My other defenders really do a great job, and it helps to make me look good back there."
Although the MVP is an individual award, Quinn could thank the rest of the Bountiful defense and Merrill for helping preserve so many shutouts and making the defensive numbers look good. But Merrill and the rest of the defense received All-State recognition and may owe Quinn some thanks for that as well.
"She does a good job of sweeping things up that get behind the defense," said Wigham. "She is exactly the type of sweeper any good team needs to have to win."
3A: McCall Rynearson, Dixie
Dixie coach Burt Myers said that besides helping the Flyers win the 3A state title this season, senior McCall Rynearson may have an influence on the soccer program for years to come.
"McCall was a well-liked, smart player that practiced as hard as she played in games," he said. "She was such a good example that all the younger players really have something they can look at what it takes to be successful. Hopefully, they can try to do all the things she did. I will be using her as an example for what they need to do as a player."
Rynearson produced some impressive numbers on the field with 21 goals and 12 assists. Besides just statistics, her presence lifted the rest of the Dixie team to its first championship since 1995.
"I don't think there are enough good adjectives to describe her as a player or a person," said Myers. "She did so much that other teams had to focus on her. She opened up things for everyone else."
Another measure of how valuable Rynearson was to the team was when she scored her goals. She scored twice against Park City in the semifinals and had four total playoff goals. Opposing coaches knew how important she was — she was voted the Region 9 MVP.
"McCall had an amazing field presence," added Myers. "She saw the field so well and she really knew how to analyze a defense. She knew when to pass and when to shoot. She was great at knowing where to attack the defense to get the openings. She just has a great mind for sports."
2A/1A: Nicole Taylor, Waterford
Perhaps no one was more surprised by the 30 goals that Nicole Taylor scored for Waterford this season than herself.
"On my club team, I play in the midfield and usually set other people up," she said. "I mean, I'll score a goal here or there, but nothing like what has happened this season in high school. I am more comfortable passing the ball."
While the 30 goals were out of the ordinary for the Penn State-bound midfielder/forward, it wasn't a surprise that she added 26 assists. It was a credit to her unselfish play to have a number that high because after watching Taylor on the field, one had the feeling she could score almost any time she touched the ball against her 2A/1A competition.
"There is no doubt that Nicole is the best player at this level," said Ravens coach Tim Dolbin. "I think she is one of the best players in the state, period. She would be one of the best at any classification."
Besides posting some amazing numbers, Taylor was a leader for a young Waterford team. Dolbin credits her with more than just being a great player. He said she was also a great teammate.
"Nicole makes sure that everyone is involved not only on the field, but off it as well," Dolbin said. "She was such a good example to our younger players. She really showed them how to practice, how to conduct themselves and what it takes to keep getting better."
Waterford was far and away the best team in the classification this season, with many games resulting in blowouts. Taylor said that while at times it was trying, her love of the sport made it easier.
"I just enjoy all of it," she said. "The running, the competition, the scoring, but the best thing is setting up a teammate for a goal with a perfect pass. That is probably my favorite thing. ... Sure, we wish we were playing better teams, but it is still fun. We are just a group of girls that like to get out on the soccer field and try to get better every time and not think about the competition."