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KAYSVILLE — With 10 region titles in the past 11 years, three consecutive state titles and two national titles, Davis High School girls soccer is creating quite the legacy, and this year the expectations will be no different.
“(Winning) has just always been expected. Davis High School has always been really high achieving and we have always known that we are everybody’s biggest game of the year so we just expect that going in and try to rise to that,” Souli Phongsavath, head coach of Davis High School soccer, said.
Phongsavath, who played soccer collegiately and also coaches club soccer, said that in his 11 years as head coach, he has always been fortunate to have success by making it to the state playoffs and doing well in the postseason, but not until three years ago did they finally break through to win a state title.
“The first two years we couldn’t get past the quarterfinals,” Phongsavath said. “We would win region, do really well and then end up losing to Brighton and then the third year we broke through and made it to the finals and lost to Alta, then after that it was semifinals most of the time and we still couldn’t break through to the finals until three years ago we did, and then we just went on this run.”
The run has now involved three consecutive state titles that include two undefeated seasons while outscoring their opponents 120-8 last season. The past two undefeated seasons have also resulted in two national titles, all while producing some of the state’s best talent who are now thriving in their college soccer careers. This season’s roster is no different as there are several girls committed to play college soccer in the years to come.
As with any team, players come and go, and there will be several girls that Phongsavath is looking forward to having a larger role this coming season. Hailee Atwater will be a four-year starter for the Darts and will control the midfield.
“She is probably the most underrated player in the state, club and high school,” Phongsavath said of Atwater. “She never gets a lot of recognition but she does the dirty work. This year we are asking her to step in and take a leading role and I know she is ready for it and I am excited for her to have the spotlight a little bit this year.”
Atwater will be a captain this year, along with Tabitha Howard. Howard will hold down the defense and be a leader after starting for the team last year.
Another player Phongsavath is expecting big things from is the versatile Zoe Jacobs, who is verbally committed to BYU after her time with Davis High.
The Davis Darts will open their season by playing Logan at home on Aug. 8 as they set out to accomplish their goal, which Phongsavath says is to “compete in every game and win region and hopefully win a state championship all while having the most fun. That is always what has been expected.” Lindsey Peterson is a Brigham Young University student studying broadcast journalism. Contact her at lindspeterson4@gmail.com or on Twitter @LindsPetey.
