High School Soccer: MVPs know what it takes to win

It takes a special player to know exactly when she must step up and make critical plays for her team. In the case of each of the four MVPs selected by the Deseret News for the 2009 girls soccer season, their playmaking abilities often provided the difference between a win and a loss.

The fact each of the MVPs helped lead their respective team to a state championship should surprise no one. All four of these players stepped up at the right times and put themselves in the right places to help their teams reach the pinnacle of high school girls soccer.

5A: Kelsea Godfrey, Alta

Few defenders made an impact rivaling what Kelsea Godfrey did for Alta in critical games this season. The senior stepped into a leadership role among the back four with a flourish.

Godfrey made game-changing saves with the precision of a talented goalkeeper. When the Hawks faced Brighton in their regular-season finale, Alta managed to come away with a 3-3 draw in large part because of the incredible stops that Godfrey made in the goalmouth itself.

Multiple teammates credited her ability to latch onto what looked to be sure goals and clear them out of danger as a primary reason the Hawks did not end up losing that game by a two- or three-goal margin.

For Godfrey, she felt a need to exert an effort that rose beyond ordinary defense to help Alta stay at a high level that the school's fan base has come to expect in recent seasons.

"I've played defense my whole life, so I knew I had to step my game up," Godfrey said. "I did and we were able to succeed."

Outstanding all-around play helped Godfrey fill a potential leadership vacuum left when defensive standouts Mo Bridge and Natalie Norris graduated after the '08 season. Godfrey quickly embraced their leadership mantle and worked overtime with senior goalkeeper Tashia Long and her fellow defenders to not allow a drop-off on the defensive side of the ball.

Hawks coach Lee Mitchell felt like Godfrey was the wheel that moved the defense all season along — especially when a game was on the line.

"She's the one who solidified everything for us all year long," Mitchell said. "She believed the whole time. She never gave up. I can't imagine how many games would have been different without her."