In high school sports, a season can essentially by divided into three parts: nonregion games, region games and the state tournament. The Murray girls soccer team had some rough patches during the first part of the season but has high hopes for the second and third portions of the year. 

Murray went 1-3 in nonregion play but quickly rebounded with a pair of victories in its first two Region 10 outings. Murray defeated Tooele 4-2 on Aug. 19, followed by a 3-1 victory over Hillcrest on Aug. 26. Two days after that, the Spartans suffered their first league loss, a 2-1 setback at Stansbury. 

The Spartans remain optimistic and have some lofty goals. 

“We look to compete for a region title and make a strong playoff run,” head coach James McKenna said. 

At Murray, team unity matters. McKenna is working hard to establish an atmosphere where all the girls can succeed and where everyone fulfils an important role. He wants all the players to enjoy playing together. 

“Our team culture emphasizes teamwork, mutual support, always giving our best effort, learning from our mistakes, maintaining a positive attitude and most importantly, having fun playing the game,” he said. “Our goals are always aligned with this culture. Regardless of winning or losing, we always reflect on whether we are staying true to our culture and beliefs.”

As McKenna considers who his top players and leaders are, he reflects on not only their production and performance on the field but the way they prepare themselves in training. He also wants players who are committed to making the team better. 

On defense, the Spartans have senior captain Bonnie Henderson and senior Amanda Shelton to anchor the group. McKenna said these players have good speed and are skilled at moving the ball up the field to the offense. Meanwhile, senior midfielders Addy Simmons and Elsie DeMann control the field and drive the Murray attack with good ball handling and passing. McKenna said Simmons and DeMann both demonstrate “quick, agile play.”

Through seven games, Murray had scored 13 goals. Forwards Preslee Stock and Abbi Christensen are players to watch up front. Stock led the team in scoring during this span with four goals. 

“[Stock] and [Christensen] will be crucial for scoring goals, using their physical strength to create opportunities in tight spaces,” McKenna said. 

At the goalie position, senior Autumn Mead is back. She missed much of last season with an injury. McKenna is happy to have her back in the goal, leading the defense. 

With still plenty of more games to go, McKenna knows more challenges lie ahead for the girls. He said reaching the team’s goals will only be possible if the players learn how to respond to and overcome these challenges. He wants them to stay positive and focused, even when situations are difficult. 

“Success this season will depend on our ability to stay resilient, learn from each game and consistently apply our team culture and belief,” said. “Our team is resilient. We’ve already faced challenging games and injuries, and our ability to reset and rebound from tough situations will be key to our success throughout the season.”

This is McKenna’s first season as head coach. He inherited a team that went 12-6 a year ago and finished third in Region 10 with an 8-4 record. It can be hard for players to respond to new coaches and adapt to change. McKenna acknowledges this and is pleased with how well the players who bought into his philosophies and the team’s goals. He has emphasized these points since the day he took over the team. 

“One of our biggest challenges is adapting to a new coaching staff with different ideas and expectations,” he said. “We’ve spent a lot of time this summer discussing our playing style, focus areas, and team culture to ensure everyone is on the same page.”

Murray faced some talented foes in nonregion play, so the Spartans’ record may not have indicated how good the team is or how well it would play the rest of the way. Murray had three consecutive shutout losses to Desert Hills, Copper Hills and East, respectively following a season-opening 5-1 victory over Taylorsville. McKenna believes that demanding schedule should pay dividends as the season progresses. 

“Our preseason schedule was tough, and we didn’t get the results we wanted,” he said. “However, we believe that learning from each game and continuing to compete against strong opponents will benefit us as we move into region play.”

The Spartans face their six Region 10 opponents two times each—once at home and once on the road. The final game of the regular season will be Oct. 2 when Murray hosts Park City. The Class 4A state tournament kicks off Oct. 10 with the first round. The first round, second round and quarterfinals are held on the home fields of higher-seeded teams. The semifinals will be at Herriman’s Zions Bank Stadium on Oct. 21, followed by the 4A championship game on Oct. 25 at America First field in Sandy. 

In this his first year at Murray, McKenna is impressed with the quality of girls he has on the team. 

“We enjoy coaching this group because they are bonding well and learning to work and trust each other,” he said. “As coaches, we love showing up every day, knowing that this group is ready to work hard and improve both on and off the field.” λ