Before the season began, the Viewmont boys soccer team had three goals — take region, take state and go undefeated in league play.

The Vikings went two for three. While they lost to eventual champion Alta in a game that boasted two coaches with over 50 years of experience between them, they ran the table during the regular season.

Coach Dave Wigham acknowledges that he's always had a philosophy of hurrying through region and focusing on state. After 26 years of coaching in Utah, he learned a new lesson from this team.

"These kids taught me to enjoy every game and enjoy the journey, and it was certainly a great journey this year," Wigham said. "I'm surprised that any team would be able to go undefeated in Region 1. These kids challenged themselves before the season ever started. I admire these kids for what they accomplished."

It was a lofty goal, and one that could easily have ended in disappointment. Wigham believes that other teams shy away from putting a target on their backs, but this team relished it.

Senior forward Justin Allen thinks the difference was how close the team was. He felt last year's team was divided, and the schism led to a defeat in the first round to Murray.

"This year we made it a point to say we couldn't let that happen again to have any chance at state," Allen said. "This year, there was no animosity. We hung out, we were all friends. It was just a really good year."

The season began with a retreat to a cabin in Heber where the team developed camaraderie between the classes. It ended with nine shutouts by the defense, two players among the top four scorers in 5A, and an ESPN ranking of 15th in the nation. Allen's 24 goals led 5A and was a new record at Viewmont.

"We just wanted to be remembered and have teams in the future use us as an example of how to be," Allen said. "Yeah, we didn't take state, but I still feel like we left a legacy with the way we played and what we accomplished."

For now, that legacy will be left to players like Jeromy Heward and Lucas Cawley. Team captains Allen, Dillon Richens, and Matt Nielsen, meanwhile, will be heading west — far west. Allen and Richens will play at BYU-Hawaii and Nielsen is heading to the University of Hawaii at Hilo.

"It's been an honor to know those kids," Wigham said. "They're quality kids and they're really good soccer players, but even better people. I've had them since they were freshmen and they did everything I asked of them. I couldn't be happier for them." —

Viewmont soccer by the numbers

18 • Straight games the Vikings played without a loss

40 • Goals scored between captains Justin Allen and Matt Nielsen

9 • Shutouts by goalie Hayden Blackburn and the backline

2 • Ranking in team goal differential at 2.47, trailing only Copper Hills in 5A

15 • Highest ranking nationally by ESPN in 2011