ST. GEORGE -The Dixie High School soccer players jogged across the artificial turf at Walt Brooks Stadium, kicking up the rubber pellets, and with the wind those pellets made practice a little difficult.
Dixie coach Burt Myers said he didn’t get to do everything he’d hoped the team would get to practice on Wednesday, April 13, but he still feels like the team is moving in the right direction.
“We’re happy that we finished some shots,” Myers said regarding Dixie’s 3-1 victory against Pine View High School on Tuesday, April 12. “We’re playing a decent style of soccer. We’ve got to take advantage of the great shots.”
The win was important for the Flyers because it helped them keep pace with Snow Canyon High School for first place in the 4A part of Region 9. The Flyers and Warriors are currently tied in the standings.
“Everybody’s had to step up this year because we lost some really classy seniors,” Myers said. “Everybody’s had to step up and play a different role than what they played last year. The roles are still developing.”
Dixie’s senior forward Trenton Truman agreed with Myers when he said the team is steadily making progress.
“We just need to finish better,” Truman said. “We should’ve had a lot more goals (against Pine View).”
He said he feels three of his teammates have really stepped up in particular. He listed off sophomore midfielder Mitch Wilkinson, junior midfielder Tadd Challis and senior midfielder Logan Vickery as the three players who have made massive improvements and impacts on the Flyers’ soccer team.
“[Vickery’s] had problems of keeping his head down,” Truman said. “But he’s gotten himself to where he’s a captain now.”
The team is preparing for its game with Cedar High School on Friday. Both Truman and Myers said they need to be careful when playing up in Cedar City.
“We need to play harder and make quicker passes because it’s going to be on grass,” Truman said. “We’re running a little more because it’s going to be higher elevation.”
Myers said playing against Cedar is scary because the games are always close.
“If you look at Cedar’s record—they’ve lost a few games but never by more than a couple of goals,” he said. “We’re going up there with the attitude that we’re going to play a No. 1 school. If you go into Cedar and don’t play your best game, they’ll sting you.”
The Flyers battle the Redmen in Cedar City on Friday, April 15, at 4 p.m.
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