By Josh McFadden | [email protected]           

What a difference a game — or even a goal — can make. The Olympus girls soccer team is all too familiar with this.           

Coming off a fifth-place finish in Region 6, the Titans narrowly missed out on an opportunity to play in the Class 5A state tournament. Each region sends four teams to the postseason, and Olympus was one game away from trading places with Highland, which took fourth. The Titans were 3-6-1 in league games; the Rams were 4-6.           

While Olympus did find itself on the wrong end of a few lopsided contests, it also had some heartbreaking defeats, any of which could have easily gone the other way and would have clinched a playoff berth. Olympus lost four games by a single goal. It also played well against region champion Skyline, tying its rivals once and losing 3-2 in the other game.           

The Titans will hope for some better luck and better results in 2018.        

Olympus did light up the scoreboard last season, totaling 25 goals in its 16 regular season games. Eight of these came in a single contest: a shutout win over West in the regular season finale. Niece Gubler scored three times last year and is back to help lead the offensive attack in 2018. Annie Griffiths is another key player Olympus will rely on for scoring this season.           

The defense hopes to make some strides as well. The Titans had some good moments last season and held 10 opponents to fewer than three goals.           

Olympus supporters have to be encouraged with the way this season got started. The Titans scored an impressive win in the opener on the road against 6A’s Herriman on Aug. 7, running away with a 4-1 victory. Gubler and Griffiths each scored twice for Olympus. The Titans broke a 1-1 halftime tie and poured it on the second half.           

A week later, Olympus had its home opener against defending Region 7 champion Corner Canyon. The Titans gave Corner Canyon a respectable match, falling 3-1. In the second half, Emma Neff scored Olympus’ lone goal.           

After three straight road games at Riverton, Bingham and Woods Cross (all after our press deadline), Olympus returns home Aug. 23 against Juan Diego. Region 6 play gets under way Aug. 28 when the Titans play at Highland.           

A victory in the region opener could go a long way in setting the tone for Olympus’ bid to get back to the postseason, which it accomplished in 2016. In fact, Olympus had reached the state tournament three years in a row before last season. However, the Titans haven’t tasted a playoff victory since 2007.