November 23, 2007
CINDERELLA WEARS RED AND GOLD
by Judge Assistant Coach Ken Fall
Early in September the Judge Memorial Catholic High School Girl’s Soccer team unveiled it’s 2007 warm-up jerseys before a game against Region 10 foe Waterford. Each shirt displayed the numerals 10-20. Why 10-20? The players knew why. Motivation for a hopeful showdown weeks away - on October 20. The date of the 3A Utah State Championship Final. The jerseys were designed by the Bulldog’s senior captains, three of whom played the last time Judge was in a State Championship final, back in 2004.
The jerseys were of little inspiration against Waterford, as Judge lost their sixth game of the season. After a 1-6 start, the dream of a state title seemed light years away. Senior forward Jenna Sliwinski, the team’s 2nd leading scorer in 2006 went out for the entire season in Game 1 with a broken collarbone. Other projected starters had opted out of the season to play with their club teams. The Bulldogs were struggling under a new coach, a new system and a new problem. How to return to the winning ways of a team that in 19 previous years had never known a losing season?
The Bulldogs are coached by first year manager Jim Ngo. Ngo had been a long-time assistant to Wayne Voorhes, the wise guide who’d steered the Lady Bulldogs to two state titles. But Ngo preached a new gospel, one that elevated ball movement and possession. The adjustment was difficult. But by the time October rolled around, improvements were showing and faith in the new way was growing. "We didn't get down on ourselves because we knew we were getting better," Ngo said. Playing in Region 10 toughened the Dawgs for playoff style soccer. Judge scored a big victory over rival Park City, and beat Waterford in the second match between the two.
Still they managed only a fourth place finish in the region, squeaking into the playoffs with a 6-9-1 record. Only one other team in 3A earned a playoff berth with a worse regular season record. If they hoped to be playing on October 20 Judge faced a daunting task. But the players believed all along they were much better than the record suggested. And they continued to remind each other of their reputation - the team others hate to play. According to defender Laura Becker, “When we want to win, we will win. Because it’s in our hearts…because we’re Judge.”
First up was Region 11 powerhouse Logan. Sophomore forwards Tess Burick and Kiersten Berg combined on a dramatic breakaway late in the game, earning Berg (the Bulldog’s top scorer) her first playoff goal. Freshman goalkeeper Natalie Warner, with the help of senior defenders Alex May and Susie Bonn, notched the first of what would remarkably become three playoff shutouts. A 1-0 road upset and Cinderella had a date to the next dance. Traveling to Cedar City for the second round Judge dispatched Canyon View with a convincing 2-0 victory. Freshman Gabbie Matinkhah and senior captain Corinne Davies scored.
But did anyone really expect the Bulldogs to make it to the finals? Next up was number one ranked and pre-tourney favorite Wasatch in the semi-finals. Judge had been thoroughly outplayed by the Wasps early in the season, and Wasatch won it’s first two playoff games by a combined 8 to 1 total. But the date was October 19th, and as we know the warm-ups weren’t embroidered with 10-19. The Lady Bulldogs were still a day away from destiny. Rallying from a 1-0 halftime deficit Judge stunned Wasatch. The defense stiffened, with great efforts from junior Sadie Young and senior Simone Olive. Forward Maddy Cartwright broke through the Wasatch back line for one goal and Davies got the dramatic game winner from 28 yards out.
The stage was set for Cinderella’s big moment. It came, of course, on October 20 against arch rival Juan Diego - the third number 1 seed Judge defeated on it’s incredible run. The golden slipper was a perfect fit for the right foot of Cartwright who, with a long chip over the Juan Diego keeper, gave the Bulldogs the win after 76 minutes of scoreless soccer. In the words of captain Bonn, “All season 35 girls gave everything, every day, every practice for that goal. And all 35 get credit for that goal.”
“We needed to prove to ourselves, to our coaches and to everybody that doubted us that we could win the title.” Cartwright claimed. When the final buzzer sounded the Lady Bulldogs had completed the most improbable championship run in recent memory, dubbed by fans the Miracle on Turf. “It felt like a dream,” said Davies. “Nobody thought we could win, except us,” said Kathryn Martinez. “People told us not to get our hopes up,” remarked Kelly Frappier, “But we didn’t listen.” "It's incredible,” Goalie Natalie Warner said. “To come from down low, up to this high is the coolest thing ever."
As the only playoff team to end the season with a win - the Lady Bulldogs had, fittingly, played 20 games on the season – winning exactly 10 of them. On 10-20-2007 Cinderella wore red and gold.