Corner Canyon soccer team charging on field to defend state championship

By Catherine Garrett | [email protected]

The Corner Canyon High girls soccer team is beginning the season right where it left off last year — with stingy defense and plenty of offense. The Chargers gave up 13 goals in 20 games in 2018, with three of those goals surrendered in its four state playoff games — all while scoring 76 goals.

In two games this season in their new 6A classification, Corner Canyon is 2-0 with a 5-0 victory over Roy and a 2-0 win against Murray. Against Roy, Kallyn Chynoweth, Kenli Coon, Macy Hart, Maryn Granger and Reagan Winget scored in the second half after a 0-0 tie at halftime. Freshman keeper Meg Covey recorded the shutout. Chynoweth again found the net in the win over Murray while Willow Collins also scored. Covey had her second shutout of the young season.

“The first few games have been a good start,” new head coach Bayleigh Steed said. “We had six different goal scorers so that really says how much they can work together and it’s not about one person scoring all our goals or taking all the credit. I’ve seen some good things, but there’s always ways to improve and grow.”

“It’s always nice to start the season off winning,” Coon said. “The first games are always about learning to play together. It felt good to beat Roy and Murray where we had multiple players score which makes us a threat.”

Steed said more than half of her starting lineup are “solid” returning varsity players and they are focusing on “finding chemistry as a team again.” “It’s just getting back into a groove and finding our timing again with each other because we have a solid foundation to build off of,” she said. “Overall, it’s just about our team working as a team because that is where we have the most strength.”

Coon said the team takes summer training seriously, knowing that “come the middle of July we better be in our best shape.” “It’s a tough few weeks of conditioning after that, but we bond as teammates during this time and cheer each other on through the process,” she said.

Senior Grace Jeppson said those hours of training and then team bonding off the field have brought a strength to their team as they stepped on the field for their first games. “It felt amazing to be back with my teammates and start getting back into the groove with them,” Jeppson said. “It was so fun to play hard with them by my side.”

Coons and Jeppson said those connections will be the key to success on the field this season. “We have to play as a team in order to win games,” Coon said. “We have the talent and athleticism. Team chemistry is everything.” 

“I think one of the biggest keys to a successful season are the strong bonds we share on the team,” Jeppson said. “The best teams will do anything for their teammates both on and off the field because they are tightly knit and will want to work harder.”

Covey, who is the team’s goalkeeper in just her first year of high school soccer, has been a thrilling addition to the Chargers defensively. “She’s excited and we’re excited to have her,” Steed said. “The girls love her.”

Also on the varsity squad are Abbie Flamm, Maggie Hart, Avery King, Annika Manwaring, Aly Milford, Paje Rasmussen, Kaytlyn Scott and Jadaisha Waahilla. The junior varsity team includes Sarah Broadbent, Sage Burt, Sophie Burt, Sydney Christensen, Esme Fletcher, Maggie Hart, Brighton Jakeman, Ellie Jones, Skye Meyers, Ellie Mills, Ella Muir, Lucie Packer, Riley Stevens, Hallie Tripp, Kayla Welker, Eliza Willey and Mikayla Zvekan. 

Steed is assisted by Ali Houghton and Krissa Reinbold on the coaching staff.

Corner Canyon is also scheduled to face Viewmont, Logan, Herriman and Copper Hills before home-and-away region matchups against Pleasant Grove, Lone Peak, Skyridge, American Fork and Westlake.

“In a few short years we have progressed from region champs to 5A state champs and now we are going into 6A,” Coon said. “This opportunity to compete with some of the best 6A soccer schools is exciting and I think we have what it takes to win. We are going to take it one game at a time and we are ready to roll.”

“We’re excited for a solid region that will require us to improve each game in order to do well,” Steed said. “The girls are really trusting each other and relying on each individual to do their part. Finding strength in our team is the only way we can succeed.”