SOUTH JORDAN, Utah – One play changed everything for
Mark Stanley.
Stanley faced a tough situation that could overwhelm a lesser goalkeeper. He was making the transition to full-time starter for
Bingham (South Jordan, Utah) in the team's first-round Class 5A playoff game against Alta a year ago. Stanley had split time in net all season with Joseph Christensen, but then Christensen went out with a concussion – leaving Stanley alone as the last line of defense.
Things got off to a rocky start. Alta took a quick lead early in the second half and the Hawks appeared poised to add to their lead a few minutes later when they lined up to take a penalty kick.
Stanley's storybook run lasted all the way into thestate final (pictured).
Photo by Dave Argyle
Stanley rose to the occasion. He blocked the penalty kick from Alta striker Marshall Miller and saved Bingham's season. The Miners rallied to win in overtime and reached the Class 5A championship game before falling to eventual champion Lehi 2-0.
"When I saved that PK, that just brought me right up," Stanley said. "I was able to carry that through the entire tournament."
Stanley has not showed any signs of slowing down in his senior season.
The Bingham senior leads Class 5A in shutouts with five clean sheets this spring. He has allowed just four goals in 10 games, helping the Miners to an 8-0-2 start.
The common denominator in each game is Stanley's defensive abilities. He can cover a ton of space in a short time. And, at times, it feels like he hasn't seen a shot impossible for him to save.
"His hands and his quickness are definitely his two biggest strengths," Bingham coach Matt Kennaley said. "His hands are very fast. He's very secure with the ball. He doesn't give up a lot of rebounds. And then his quickness in being able to get down on a ball and to be able to come out and make an attack off a striker's foot is very good."
Getting professional advice helped Stanley take his game to the next level. He received valuable instruction from Real Salt Lake head coach Jeff Cassar while attending soccer clinics a few years ago with his club soccer team.
Cassar, then an assistant to Jason Kreis and a former MLS goalkeeper himself, tutored Stanley in the finer points of goalkeeping. He helped Stanley to improve his field vision and communication with his teammates.
Most importantly, Cassar also taught him how to mentally prepare for each match.
"Before each game, he would tell me to mentally visualize," Stanley said. "That has helped me get ready for every situation. It's helped me keep myself mentally in the game."
The end result is a goalkeeper who has made Bingham one of the toughest soccer teams in Utah. Stanley's work ethic continues to keep the Miners near the top.
He makes a continual effort to stay involved in every match and communicate with his teammates. Kennaley said Stanley cares about his position and does everything possible to make himself a better player. He takes charge and owns the 6-yard box in virtually every match.
It's one reason why scoring goals against Bingham is a chore for any team this season.
"I don't know how you can't look at that and not be over the moon about it," Kennaley said. "When you come down to it, they say defense wins championships. If you have a keeper in the back who can't make saves or keep a clean sheet, it makes it very hard on a team to have that energy to win."
John Coon covers Utah high school sports for MaxPreps. He can be reached at john_coon@hotmail.com or you can follow him on Twitter at @johncoonsports
