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Soccer Team’s Key: Belief

Oct 08, 2015 01:05PM ● By Bryan Scott

Grizzly goal keeper Ashley Sargent has recorded three shutouts this season. Photo courtesy of Aaron Rumfallo

By Greg James

West Jordan - Do you believe in Santa Claus, Martians, or the Easter bunny? The Copper Hills girls soccer team is beginning to believe they can win.

“The belief is what makes this team different. Conditioning in the summer has made them (the players) better, but the number one thing is the belief that these girls can play soccer. They can hang with any team. It just depends on us,” head girls soccer coach Ryan Rumfallo said.

Despite a roller coaster pre-season the Grizzlies have pulled it together in region play. They opened their 2015 season with a 5-0 win over Riverton and then defeated Skyview in Smithfield, 3-2. After the two opening wins, they suffered a 3-0 loss to American Fork and tied Cottonwood, 2-2.

“We started out really well. We had set the bar really high. I feel like to this point of the season it has been a progression. We do have three varsity starters out with injuries, so we have had to juggle some things going into region,” Rumfallo said.

The Grizzlies righted the ship with a 6-0 victory over Taylorsville. Five players scored in the game, and Ashley Sargent recorded the shutout. They then beat Brighton, 1-0, for the first time in school history. Kate Sissler notched the game’s only goal in the first half.  Sargent has recorded three shutouts.

“Ashley came up with huge saves. If she does not come with the ball in the Brighton game, we do not win it. Kate Sissler has given us strong leadership and Dominique (Estrada) has really stepped up for us scoring wise,” Rumfallo said.

Estrada scored four goals in the victory over Riverton. She is a sophomore and leads the Grizzlies in scoring this season with eight goals. 

The Grizzlies are scheduled to close out the regular season on Thursday, Oct. 1 at Brighton and then travel to West Jordan High School to face the Jaguars on Thursday, Oct. 8. The first round of the state playoffs is scheduled to begin Oct. 13, and the state finals will be Oct. 23 at Rio Tinto Stadium.

“The players are really starting to get behind each other. With any sport, you have to keep pushing together even when it gets tough. The ultimate goal is to win a region title and then a state title. I think it is a step in the right direction for us to win some of these big games,” Rumfallo said.