PDF: Meet the All-Area Soccer Team
KAYSVILLE -- There was never any question that the Darts would score goals.
Not with such a talented corps of strikers and midfielders.
For the Davis High School boys soccer team, the biggest question surrounding 2010 was how well would they be able to shut teams down.
Senior holding midfielder Steven McGrath, the Darts' only returning defensive starter, made sure that question was answered as soon as it was asked.
"We all knew how to work," McGrath said. "Even before the season started, when we had conditioning, we knew we were going to work very hard on our defense."
And with that hard work came spectacular results.
With just one goal allowed in their first 13 games, Davis' defense vaulted itself into the conversation of perhaps being the best to ever take the field in the Beehive State.
The Darts allowed just four goals through the course of 20 games, setting a new state record for fewest allowed in a season, and had 16 shutouts.
McGrath knew early on that his role was going to be crucial, being named as a team captain and rapidly rising to be the unquestioned leader of the defensive third of the field.
His hard work, hustle and pure team play have led to McGrath being named as Most Valuable Player of the 2010 Standard-Examiner All-Area Boys Soccer Team.
"Steve was the anchor," Davis coach Soulivanh Phongsavath said. "He was our link from the defense to the offense. He was the only defender that had any varsity experience, so we depended on him for his leadership. He was simply everywhere for us."
Long a proponent of the traditional sweeper/stopper defensive alignment, Phongsavath changed things up this spring in moving to a flat-back four defense with a diamond midfield, placing McGrath as the back pin in front of four first-year starters across the back row.
"He was our first line of defense," Phongsavath said. "We was able to read the game and determine whether he needed to press forward in the attack or sit back and help defend. He did it perfectly.
"I have never seen anyone tackle or head the ball as well as him."
Phongsavath's high expectations of McGrath made him design the Darts' defensive structure precisely to take advantage of McGrath's strengths.
"We're great friends," McGrath said. "It was really a combined effort. When we played defense as a team, we were unstoppable. We passed the ball around to everybody and got everyone involved. Having solid guys in the back allows the midfielders and forwards to have support attacking."
Davis finished the year with 74 goals scored and a plus-68 goal differential, the largest ever at the 5-A level, en route to winning its third boys state soccer championship.
"I think I'm a pretty cool-headed guy, so when we needed it I tried to help calm everyone down," McGrath said. "I talked to people when they needed it and reminding them that they knew what they were doing and could do it. I think that helped everyone back there keep calm and keep under control."
That coolness under fire was critical as for the Darts, who faced numerous talented offensive players and teams, yet did not allow a single goal during run of play as all four strikes came off set pieces -- two corner kicks, a penalty kick and a free kick.
"We talked a lot and communicated well," McGrath said. "We knew we had some amazing players and if we worked together we could be an amazing team. I don't think we ever realized just how good we could be.
"Coming into this season, I knew it could be the last time I ever played soccer, so I figured, 'you know what, I'm just going to go out there and give it my best.' I'll never forget it. It's just been a dream."
McGrath is joined by Fremont's Corey Craynor and Bonneville's Cord Stimpson as repeat first-team selections, while Ogden's Alfonso Perea is a three-time selection and Ben Lomond's Tyler Walters is a second-time selection after earning first-team honors as a sophomore.
The All-Area team is selected based upon individual statistics, team finish in region and state tournament play and input from the 17 head coaches inside the newspaper's five-county circulation area.
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