Pursuit of perfection: MVP leading Park City's soccer title quest

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Sep 27, 2005 | by Michael Black Deseret Morning News

PARK CITY -- The Park City Miners are trying to accomplish a rare feat this year. They want to finish the season and go through the playoffs undefeated. With already 13 consecutive wins, and only four remaining regular-season games, they are well on their way.

One of the driving forces behind the team's success has been Kelly Isleib.

The reigning 3A MVP, Isleib has taken her game and her team to a new level. Whether it has been through her overall soccer skills or just her pure will to win, she has not allowed the team to lose.

"Kelly is one of those players that will do whatever it takes to get the win," said Park City coach Chip Cook. "She can be sick or hurt, it doesn't matter, she will be out there giving her best and doing whatever is necessary to get the job done."

What Isleib is usually giving is goals and assists. She leads the classification with 24 goals in the 13 games, but loves to dish it out as much as putting the ball in the net.

"I think getting the assist is just as good as getting the goal yourself," said Isleib. "Sometimes it is even better because you can get someone else to pick it up by getting them excited about a goal."

Offensively, there may not be a better player in the state, but Isleib admits she is still working to improve her defense.

"I went to the U-20 National Team Camp this past year," she said. "It was pretty intimidating, but I learned that I could play with all the best players in the country. My dribbling and offense were my strengths, but I learned that I have some work to do on my defense."

She also said that her time spent at the Home Depot Center in California participating in the camp made her even better for her high school team.

"The camp was just awesome," she said. "It was a lot of soccer, but playing against that type of competition every day forces you to raise your own level, to make you a more complete player."

Playing high school, club level and even national team soccer may seem like a lot, but Isleib is a self-admitted soccer junky. She said that other than just hanging out with friends, her hobbies are playing soccer, thinking soccer and talking soccer.

"I just love all of it," she said. "The competition, being with a team, just getting out on the field and running and playing against another team is the best. It is definitely the best sport out there."

Isleib is not an unknown in the soccer ranks. She is being heavily recruited by several schools to play college soccer, but has narrowed the list to Arizona State, Utah, Pepperdine (where she will take her last recruiting visit this week) and Santa Clara. She said she really doesn't have a favorite, but just wants to go where she will be happy not only with the soccer, but with life in general.

One thing that has made Isleib happy this year is the Park City team.

"We all get along great. We have great chemistry," she said. "There isn't drama on our team, which is rare in high school and very nice."

Although much of the credit for the Miners' success can be given to Isleib, she is quick to point out that it is a complete team effort.

"We have a group of freshmen that are really good," she said. "Plus, we have mostly the same team from last year (a team that won the 3A state title). If we keep playing like we have been as a team, then I think we should go all the way again this year."

For Isleib, capping the year with a state title would be icing on the cake. She said this year has shown her a lot about what soccer can be.

"This year has been a lot of fun," she said. "We beat Skyline and Alta, which we had never done, and it has just been great to see how well we can play. I wouldn't trade it for anything."

E-mail: mblack@desnews.com