Miners bury Wasps to stay unbeaten

HEBER CITY — Park City's 4-0 trouncing of Wasatch Wednesday raised an interesting question in 3A soccer: Are the Miners really that good?

During his seven years at the school, Park City coach Mark Guetschow has never seen a Park City-Wasatch game decided by more than two goals. One afternoon in Heber changed all of that.

"We knew we were good," said Park City striker Paul Loboschefsky. "We're a lot more cohesive because we've been playing together for so long."

Combine the Miners' cohesion with Wasatch playing the worst game ever according to Dawain Wheatley, and you've got a good ol' fashioned butt-whooping.

It took Park City just 10 minutes to open the scoring as Ryan Hart unspooled a shot that soared through a narrow gap between Wasatch's keeper and the near post.

"The wind was pretty stiff in the first half," said Guetschow. "We were able to withstand that and build up to a good solid first goal."

Wasatch had an excellent chance to equalize in the 21st minute, but Park City keeper Rock Christeson made a point-blank save on a shot by Jesus Javier. That was the Wasps' only quality scoring chance during an opening half in which the wind was at their backs.

Despite that, Wasatch was still hanging in there defensively, and looked poised to keep the deficit at 1-0 by halftime. That all changed in the 35th minute when Loboschefsky caught everyone napping when he unleashed a 40-yard shot into the wind that bounced softly into the goal box then into the net.

After a stern halftime lecture, Wasatch came out with a little more purpose. It nearly led to a goal in the 39th minute, but Daniel Whitaker's header from the middle of the box inched past the post.

Park City's defense, anchored by sweeper Jessie Palmer, made sure that was Wasatch's last scoring chance.

Aleks Roising and Loboschefsky tallied goals eight minutes apart midway through the second half as Park City improved to 6-0-2 on the season, and 2-0 in Region 10 play.

With half the season remaining, the top-ranked Miners are looking tough. Guetschow knows, however, that complacency is a cruel thing.

Last season Park City went into the state tournament as one of the favorites, but was blanked by Juan Diego 2-0 in the semifinals.

"Every year is different, but we do have a lot of guys back who started last year and know what can happen if you let someone stay close," said Guetschow.