In the job description of a goalkeeper, there's really only one responsibility: Stop shots.

Somehow, though, Alta goalkeeper Chris Lowrimore took that direction and made it less of a mission and more of an art form.

He was arguably the most important piece of the state's best team. The Hawks are the 5A champions, not behind Lowrimore but instead literally in front of him. He was about 100 yards away when Korban Bluth scored the game-winning goal in the title game against Brighton at Rio Tinto.

Alta coach Lee Mitchell insisted throughout the season that Lowrimore was the key to Alta's success.

"If you've got a good goalkeeper," Mitchell said, "they inspire the rest of the team because the rest of the team is going to play loose and free because you know he's got your back."

Lowrimore made his mark as a vocal keeper, knowledgeably alerting his defense to formations by attacking offenses.

"I'm kind of the eyes in the back of their head," he said. "That's kind of what I'm supposed to do."

Lowrimore will play at Gonzaga, one of two Alta players to sign with West Coast Conference programs.

Lowrimore recorded 10 shutouts this season for the Hawks, who were 18-1-1. Opponents scored just 12 times against Lowrimore. Even Viewmont, the highest-scoring team in 5A, was stymied by Lowrimore. In the semifinal on May 24, Lowrimore shut out the vaunted Vikings offense.

"The thing I think that makes Chris as good as he is — he's got a lot of talent and abilities — but he works harder than anybody," Mitchell said. "He puts in the time and he's very coachable. The things that he's weak on he'll work the hardest on and improve. That's what makes it fun to be around him."

Of course, the shot stopping helps.

boram@sltrib.com

Twitter: @oramb

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The teams

All-State boys' soccer teams (pdf) • http://bit.ly/jet5Hd

All-State boys' soccer MVPs (pdf) • http://bit.ly/m52R7I

Class 5A first team

MVP: Chris Lowrimore, Sr., Goalkeeper, Alta

Midfielder, Derek Boggs, Sr., Alta

Midfielder, Winston Sorhaitz, Sr., Pleasant Grove

Midfielder, Dillon Richens, Sr., Viewmont

Midfielder, Sam Erekson, Sr., Bingham

Midfielder, John Taylor, Jr., Davis

Midfielder, Connor Colletti, Sr., Brighton

Forward, Justin Allen, Sr., Viewmont

Forward, Matt Nielson, Sr., Viewmont

Forward, Andy Rodriguez, Sr., Cyprus

Forward, Alex Lawhun, Sr., Alta,

Defender, Matt Fritzsche, Sr., Brighton

Defender, Curtis Child, Sr., Weber

Goalkeeper, Hayden Blackburn, Sr., Viewmont

Goalkeeper, Taylor Ruff, Sr., Copper Hills

Class 5A second team

Midfielder, Parker Dixon, Jr., Weber

Midfielder, Lucas Cawley, Fr., Viewmont

Midfielder, Andrew Hawks, Sr., Alta

Midfielder, Jerry Dearden, Sr., Brighton

Midfielder, Nate Speirs, Sr., Murray

Midfielder, Oscar Zamudio, Sr., Copper Hills

Forward, Andrew Newbold, Sr., Copper Hills

Forward, Taylor Fankhouser, Jr., Brighton

Forward, Adrien Baldwin, Sr., Murray

Forward, Marlo Matamoros, Sr., Cyprus

Defender, Daniel Baggaley, Jr., Brighton

Defender, Thomas Rodriguez, Jr., Murray

Defender, Logan Anderson, Sr., Copper Hills

Defender, Brock Buckway, Sr., Viewmont

Goalkeeper, Aaron Stoddard, Sr., Brighton

Goalkeeper, Daniel Ainsworth, Jr., West