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COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS — Sparta United soccer club has led the boys club circuit in Utah for a few years.
Now they’re ready to take the next step nationally.
For the second-straight season, Sparta will send a boys team to the U-17 U.S. Youth Soccer national tournament in Frisco, Texas.
“It’s just not like any tournament we’ve been to,” player Easton Harryman said. “It’s a lot more intense. Everyone is pumped to be here.”
A year ago, they became the first boys team from Utah to make it to the semifinals of the national tournament since 1995.
This year, they hope to take it one step further.
“We’re hoping to take it all this year,” player Brandon Cervantes said. “We’re ready. We’re prepared. Everybody is excited to go give it everything we’ve got.”
Teammate Zach Rothey is also confident.
"I think we have a really good chance of winning it all this year," he said. "I think this year, our team is even better. We have more depth through the bench. We have more players that can come out and play at an equal level as our starters, so I think we’ll have a really good chance to win it all.”
Local girls soccer clubs Celtic FC and La Roce will also compete in the week-long tournament.