This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Ogden's Avery Calton entered her senior season knowing she would have a target on her back. Not only had she led her team to a state title the year before, but she had gained a reputation for playing her best in crucial situations, so flying under the radar was out of the question.
That didn't matter.
Calton again proved her ability to perform in the clutch in this year's 3A state girls' soccer tournament, despite a stunning loss to Park City in the semifinals. Calton sent a frozen rope ricocheting off the crossbar and into the net from 25 yards out to give Ogden the lead and eventually the win against Cedar City in the state quarterfinals.
That is the kind of player Calton was throughout the season and her career. When it was crunch time, Ogden looked to her for leadership and followed her example.
"I made her our vocal captain for a reason," Ogden coach Jason Steiner said. "She would say the things out on the field that needed to be said. Those things weren't always popular, but they were almost always right."
Despite being vocal, Calton still was as cool under pressure as anyone around, and that rubbed off on her teammates. She was well aware that her teammates were relying on her, and that took her game to another level.
"It's an honor to be viewed as a leader, especially on a team with so many great players," Calton said. "That role made me work hard every minute of the season. Being a captain and a senior, I knew that if I let up at all, it would give others a license to let up. It starts with me."
Calton's attitude of accountability will stick with her teammates for a long time. Although the Tigers now face life without Calton, her influence will be evident in the Ogden program for years to come.
All-state girls' soccer team 2012
Talent doesn't trump everything. Winning takes more. Titles demand leadership and accountability. The MVPs and all-state players of the 2012 girls' soccer season understood this notion. Meet The Tribune's MVPs, first teams and second teams in each class: