Last season, the Murray boys soccer team got a taste of what playing for a state championship is like. Now, the team wants to quench its thirst. 

The Spartans had a terrific year in 2024, making it all the way to the Class 4A finals before falling to Ridgeline 4-3 in a heart-stopping, high-scoring contest. The Spartans were 15-3 a year ago. Though the team was thrilled with its postseason run, coming up just shy of the top prize left the players wanting more. 

“Last year was exciting because of the success we experienced,” head coach Bryan DeMann said. “Making it all the way to the state championship game is something we are all proud of. At the same time, you want that final step. The boys want another shot. I think they feel like they have some unfinished business.”

The talent and experience are there to make another run, but DeMann recognizes the Spartans have a lot to work on. He wants to take last year’s achievements and continue them in 2025. 

“Our goal is to build off of last year,” he said. “We want to use the strengths we have but also be smart enough to see the things that need to be better. We need to be honest and mature enough to recognize areas that need improvement and then put in the work to change those things.”

To achieve the team goals, DeMann said the Spartans need to put in the effort each day at practice. He is convinced that addressing the areas where the team is struggling will lead to a memorable season for Murray boys soccer. 

“We need commitment, honesty and work,” he said. “If we are mature enough to look for the things that we can do better and commit to doing the work to improve, this will be a special year.”

A few of the areas DeMann wants to work on are free kicks and meshing a wide array of talents into a cohesive unit. 

“Every team has to find a way to blend together and become comfortable with their responsibilities,” he said. “We need to be better at set pieces. Scoring off of and defending set pieces was not one of our strengths last year.”

DeMann said the players are familiar with one another and everyone’s style of play, abilities and tendencies. A lot of the Spartans have not only been on the same club teams, but they’ve played against excellent competition, which has given the players tremendous experience. 

“These boys have been playing for a long time, most since they were 7 or 8,” DeMann said. “Many have had some high-level experience through their clubs and tournaments they have played in.”

The Spartans have several veteran players who were part of the state runner-up team and been through many ups and downs with the program. There is also no shortage of talent on the squad. Still, it’s a long season, and DeMann knows it can be mentally tough to stay focused for more than three months of practices and games. He is drilling into his players’ heads to not let their guard down and stay hungry for the ultimate prize: winning state. 

“Winning a few games can make you complacent,” DeMann said. “Hunger for improvement every day at practice can get lost and it is too easy to just float. The coaches and team captains have to keep everyone focused on the goal for the end of the season.”

Murray has multiple starters on this year’s team who were in the starting lineup a year ago. Jason Adams, Colton DeMann, Ryan Diaz, Preston Lawson, Axel Lopez, Carlos Nieto-Rosales, Bracken Overby and Easton Toone are all players the Spartans count on for leadership and production. Some younger players have joined the fray and are expected to be major contributors like Anthony Guerra, Manny Lopez, Mikey Martinez, Jack O’Bryan and Jake Riches. 

Murray’s 2025 season started off on the right foot. 

The Spartans won their first three matches, prevailing in different types of victories each time. First, in the March 4 season opener, the Spartans had an impressive 3-1 win at home over Class 6A foe Corner Canyon. On March 8, Murray blew out Logan at home by the count of 6-0, as the Spartans scored three times in each half. Then, on March 11, Murray showed it could win a close game in the clutch when it defeated Orem on the road in a shootout. After a 4-4 game following two overtime periods, Murray outlasted Orem 6-5 in penalty kicks. 

Through three contests, Nieto-Rosales had tallied a team-high 4 goals and three assists. Riches had 3 goals and an assist during this span, while O’Bryan had found the back of the net twice while dishing out an assist.  

DeMann is grateful for his players and for his staff, all of whom have done their part to make the Murray program the success that it is today. 

“I have Steve Christensen, Alvaro Omiste and Bryce DeMann, who have all helped with coaching for 12 years or more,” he said. “We all love seeing these boys grow and improve. Sharing in the excitement and enthusiasm of their accomplishments is awesome. We appreciate these boys and their parents for the Murray soccer family that they are. Not everyone gets their name in the paper, but every one of them is necessary for the success of the group.” λ