The evening started off with positive energy for the Miners boys soccer team on senior night Tuesday, but that all dissipated late as the Cottonwood Colts played spoiler. 

The Colts rolled into Dozier Field 2-8 (now 3-8) and shocked the now-3-7 Miners, breaking the long-lasting 0-0 stalemate with some late game heroics. With 12:30 remaining in the game’s second half, Cottonwood’s junior defenseman James Vaughan ripped in an acrobatic right-legged kick off his team’s corner kick. Despite Park City’s pressing efforts from that position, they were unfortunately unable to generate many quality chances at an equalizer. 

The loss now has the Miners desperate for wins down the stretch if they want to sneak into the playoffs. Those 4A playoffs begin May 10, and the team has three remaining regular season games to go beginning with Hillcrest this Friday on the road. That game will begin at 3:30 p.m. at Hillcrest High, with Park City’s additional two games being April 30 against Murray and May 6 against Layton Christian Academy, both at home. 

---

---

While the energy had drained from the Park City sideline after the games’ final whistle, that didn’t stop head coach Anthony DiCicco from taking away his usual positives. The coach, who also coaches the Miners girls squad, is famously process-oriented and positive thinking. 

DiCicco’s squad celebrated 12 seniors Tuesday night, including Joe Croney, Will Tettelbach, Aron Tubila, Griffin Roy Williams, David Dellenbach, Sebastian Huertas, Garrett Provines, Jay Sykes, Gryffin Ryan Williams, Tory Hoffman, Uli Montalvo and Logan Lusher. Tubila and Sykes are the two captains of this bunch, who’ve been playing alongside each other for years. 

---

---

“Obviously not the way we wanted it to go,” DiCicco said. “I thought we created good chances, I thought we had substantial periods where we had control, then we didn’t finish some of those chances, and we got punished on a set piece late, which happens in the game of soccer sometimes. We’ll be home twice more this season. we’re just going to get back to our process and do the work that we do everyday, which is working to be the best versions of ourselves, keeping the ball, finishing our chances, being solid defensively, which we were for most of the game today.”

DiCicco’s squad will have their hands full in those remaining home matchups, with Murray and Layton Christian having a combined record of 19-1. The top 24 teams in 4A qualify for the postseason. 

“Sure, we want to win every game, we wanted to win tonight, but the impact we make is much bigger than any one night, any one game and even any one season, so these guys are writing a chapter, and I’ll tell you I wouldn’t want to be one of the teams that has to face us down the stretch,” DiCicco added.

DiCicco said each loss adds fuel to the fire for his boys, especially the seniors. The Miners last win came March 29 against Springville on the road. 

“At the end of the day, I know my boys did everything they could out on the field,” shared Tubila after the loss. “I just want us to keep on working and try to win these next two games.”

“It’s just another game,” Sykes added. “I think we let the festivities get in the way a little bit, and that’s just something we can’t let happen.” 

Sykes believes Hillcrest will hold their senior night Friday, where he’d like to play spoiler this time. He said the team has to play a lot more composed and do a better job of possessing the ball then. 

“It’s an honor (to play with this group), I’ve known a lot of these kids since I was a little kid. We’ve just got to keep it rolling here, and it makes it even more special that its with these seniors, but still have to get the job done,” concluded Sykes.