San Juan boys soccer team wins two of three in past week for most wins in a season since program began
by Rhett Sifford
Sports Editor
With a 2-1 win at home over Millard this past Saturday, April 15 the San Juan High School boys soccer team moved to 3-5 on the season.
That doesn’t appear very significant in the whole scheme of things except that for the Broncos it’s the most wins they’ve had in a season since the varsity program began in 2019.
The Broncos were 2-1 on the week. In addition to their win over the Eagles they also topped Diamond Ranch 3-2 in an overtime thriller this past Tuesday, April 11. The third win came via forfeit, also against Diamond Ranch on April 6.
San Juan leading scorer, senior Shawn Black, scored two goals in each of the wins this past week, and the only goals in the Millard game.
Goalkeeper Javin Montella made 15 saves in the win against the Eagles and junior Parkar Sopena added the third goal in the win against Diamond Ranch.
In the other game over the past weekend the Broncos suffered a 3-0 loss to South Sevier on Friday, April 14.
With the 3-5 record San Juan is now ranked 18th in the 2A RPI standings. Through the first eight games of the season Black leads the team with four goals while Sopena has two.
Goalkeeper Javin Montella has an impressive 74 saves on the season, an average of 9.3 per game.
Coach Jones says the team’s recent success comes from the fact that they are gaining confidence in each other and working together well as a team.
The Broncos are down to their last five games of the regular season and they’ll all be played within an eight-day period. They faced Millard again on Tuesday, April 18, this time on the road and too late for our press deadline.
On Thursday, April 20 they’ll host Beaver. This Friday and Saturday, April 20 and 21 it’s a tough home-and-home with undefeated #2-ranked Gunnison Valley, in Blanding on Friday, then in Gunnison Saturday.
San Juan closes out the regular season on Tuesday, April 25 in Beaver with the 2023 2A Utah Boys State Soccer Championships beginning on April 28.