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Miners prepping for regular season finale, start of state tournament

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Miners forward Abby Hanton takes a shot on goal in a previous game against Jordan. Hanton and Park City will look to avoid a letdown and continue forth their momentum in their game Wednesday against Murray.
File photo by David Jackson/Park Record

The Miners Girls Soccer Team is preparing for their regular season finale against the Murray Spartans Wednesday, Sept. 27, as well as the state tournament, which kicks off next week. Park City is riding high on an 11-game win streak, and their Head Coach Anthony DiCicco is hopeful they’ll be able to avoid a letdown, which could cost them home field advantage in the playoffs.

Despite the Miners impressive 7-1 road record this year, Coach DiCicco isn’t overlooking the importance of playing in a home atmosphere. Park City hasn’t hosted a playoff game since 2019, when they stomped out the Bountiful Redhawks, only to lose to eventual state champ Skyline once they left their friendly confines.

That 2019 Miners team didn’t get to make deep run in the tournament, however there is widespread hope that this year’s team can right their wrongs, now in 4A. Coach DiCicco, whose father won an Olympic gold medal and World Cup title as head coach of the USWNT back in the ’90s, knows all about the trials and tribulations faced in tournament soccer. He believes this Miners squad has the leadership, team-first attitude and more that it takes to make it through all that is thrown at them.

Miners forward Abby Hanton reacts after taking a shot on goal in a previous game against Jordan. Park City unfortunately lost immediately after their last home playoff game in 2019, however there’s belief this year’s team has what it takes to make a deep playoff run.
File photo by David Jackson/Park Recod

Speaking on the importance of Wednesday’s game to their upcoming tournament run, Coach DiCicco said “we’re playing for home field advantage, and (importantly) a potential bye as well. We want to put ourselves in a position to go on a run and compete for a state championship.” His team plans to continue taking calculated, tactical risks down the stretch, a point of strategy that has helped guide them to their success on the season. 

With a well-connected team, adding in new wrinkles as the Miners have progressed has been no problem for Coach DiCicco and his staff. He touched upon this, saying “we continue to become more tactically sophisticated as the season goes on, and we intend to have those (ever-increasing) options available to us as the tournament goes on. … We believe our best soccer is still ahead of us.”

Make it out to Quinns Junction at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday to see the Miners in action, and keep a keen eye out for the announcement of their first playoff contest. The UHSAA State Tournament Bracket Reveal is next Wednesday, with games beginning the following day and concluding on Oct. 20 at Real Salt Lake’s America First Field in Salt Lake.

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