Penalty kick keeps Judge soccer from state title

Courtesy photo/ Bryan Byerly BB Photos

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Judge Memorial CHS' soccer team finished the 2018 regular season undefeated and lost the state championship game by one point.

SALT LAKE CITY—Judge Memorial Catholic High School’s girls soccer team finished their 2018 season strong, making it undefeated all the way to the 3A   playoffs and leaving Juab in the dust at the state semi-finals. The Oct. 20 championship game against Morgan High School at Rio Tinto stadium was close throughout, with the Trojans scoring the only goal from a penalty kick mid-way through the first half. While this meant a second place for the Bulldogs, the team was unfazed by the defeat.

“Even though we lost, we all picked our heads up afterwards because it didn’t really matter,” senior Jill Nelson said. “What counted was the meaningful relationship we built with each other and how close we got.”

“I’m really proud of our whole team,” Nelson added. “Even though it was not the outcome we had hoped for, we worked hard. It was my best season yet.”

Coach Scott Platz said the players had a closeness and sense of family “from the get-go.”

While the Bulldogs may not have the first place plaque in their trophy case, the team was victorious in other tangible ways. After winning region last year for the first time since 2004, the Bulldogs again became region champs this year.

“This group renewed the pride and tradition of Judge soccer,” Platz said.

With 10 seniors on the team, the younger players were able to benefit from their leadership and experience, Platz said. The coach said his senior mid-fielders “were the engine that drove the machine.”

Going into the championship game, the Bulldogs had already beaten the Trojans twice earlier in the season, once on Oct. 4. That happened to be Senior Night and Judge, down two goals at one point, came back to beat Morgan 5-2.

“That was a great night,” said Madi Jones, who remembers that game as a highlight of the season.

The team has been through a lot the last couple of few years. They were moved from 4A play to 3A last year, and then the team’s head coach quit just before playoffs and Platz jumped in to fill the void. Then, this summer Platz was struck by a car while riding his bike and was in the hospital for a month, being discharged only three days before team tryouts.

“I don’t know where I’d be without this team helping me through that,” he said. “For a long time, coaching this team was the only thing I was allowed to do and it kept me motivated.”

Also, last year after the season ended senior soccer team member Bailey Walker was diagnosed with leukemia. She went through treatment and then came back to help coach the team this season.

While all the seniors hope to see their younger teammates take home the state championship next year, Killian Lamanna said, “I hope they keep the family we created.”

“I wouldn’t trade that for a win,” she said.