AUBURN MOUNTAINVIEW LIONS

• Coach: Cary Davidson, ninth year

• Last year: fourth in the SPSL 3A with a 5-4-0 league record, 9-6-1 overall.

• Top returners: Madi Clarkson, senior, midfielder; Sophia Wagner, senior, defender; Dlene Colburn, senior, forward; Nicole Carter, senior, midfielder; Anastasia Finney, senior, goalkeeper; and Madison Newell, senior midfielder.

• Outlook: Coming into last season’s league schedule, Auburn Mountainview looked to be one of the teams to beat, with a No. 3 ranking in the state 3A poll. Five injuries in the Lions’ first league game, however, hampered the team’s quest for postseason glory. Despite the injuries, the Lions still qualified for the postseason by finishing fourth in the SPSL 3A. This year the Lions turn to Utah State-bound senior midfielder Clarkson to key the team. Also back is midfielder Wagner, a first-team All-SPSL 3A selection last year. “We need to score goals,” Davidson said. “We’re always pretty good defensively, but we didn’t score enough goals last year. It was our lowest goal-scoring total in eight seasons.” Senior team leadership looks to be a team strength. “I have five captains (Finney, Carter, Wagner, Newell and Clarkson). There are so many kids in that class, and every one of them is an excellent leader. I think that might be the intangible that will help us this year.”