I've never been a big fan of soccer. I don't completely understand the game and quite frankly I stink at it. I'm lucky to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time, let alone run and control a soccer ball with someone chasing me. That's why I was a runner and wrestler. Not much coordination needed to run and roll around on a mat. But soccer? Not me.

My first real introduction to the sport was when the United States women won the Wold Cup and I had the chance to enjoy dinner with Brandi Chastain and Mia Hamm a few months later. Nice ladies, smart and athletic and yes, very pretty. But these two women were athletes and after spending an hour visiting with them that night in Las Vegas I slowly began to pay attention to the sport the rest of the world seemed to love.

Then I had to start covering high school girls soccer games for the Clipper this autumn. Again, it was work. I really didn't want to cover girls soccer (or any soccer for that matter) but it was my job.

Eight weeks later, I can honestly say I'm a convert! Now, understand, I still don't completely grasp everything about soccer, but I actually like it and more important, I appreciate it.

This is a sport that has it all. The fast pace of lacrosse with the agility of ice skating. Weird combination, I know, but it is what it is.

And to be a fan of girls soccer, living in Davis County is like being a fan of the MoTown sound of the 1960s growing up in Detroit. We have an amazing wealth of soccer talent in Davis County. It really amazes me that so many great (not just good) soccer players reside within Davis County. What's in the water here, anyway?

On Tuesday I had the chance to watch Viewmont and Davis battle (and I mean battle) for 80 minutes until the Darts came away with a 2-0 win in this chapter of that storied high school rivalry. This time, it was the combination of youth and veterans like Kaytlin McLeod and Scottie Prince getting the better of the Lady Viking's Victoria Anderson and Charly Booth. At the beginning of the season Viewmont captured the first meeting 4-0. Talk about parity!

What's even more impressive is along with these two 5A teams, we have defending state 4A champion Bountiful with Sally LeLoudis and Molly Merrill hammering its way through Region 5.

Woods Cross has the goalie tandem of Taylor Bolding and Mercadi Nye.

Watching the speed and agility and intensity of this sport has pulled me in.

Folks, if you ever wanted to see pressure-packed athletics with grace and sportsmanship, it's girls soccer in Davis County. Oh, sure, these girls will slam one another and push and shove, but it's part of the beauty of the ferocity of this crazy game called girls soccer.

You go, girls!



sschulte@davisclipper.com