Christian Bain anchors a strong offense for Alta High soccer in Utah

SANDY, Utah – Playing up a level in soccer is nothing new for Christian Bain. He spent last season as the lone junior starter among a group of seniors for Alta (Sandy). Still, things felt different then than they do now.

Bain held back from taking control of the game at times, because he didn't feel like it was his place. He felt bound to defer to his older teammates and wait for his turn to make an impact.

Once his turn came as a senior captain this season, Bain vowed to not let the opportunity slip through his fingers.

"In the back of my mind, I was never trying to be like a game-changer because I was one of the younger players," Bain said. "This year has been almost like a confidence booster. It wasn't like I was not confident last year. But this year I have so much more confidence offensively to take people on and control the game."

Alta has reaped benefits from the senior center midfielder taking on a more aggressive role.

The Hawks entered the Class 5A boys soccer playoffs as a state title favorite after posting a 15-1-1 regular season record and winning the Region 3 title. Alta opened the season on a 15-game unbeaten streak before suffering its lone loss to Copper Hills.

Bain's play in the middle is a major reason for that success. He scored eight goals and registered 10 assists during the regular season. Earlier this month, Bain was named the 2014-15 Gatorade Utah Boys Soccer State Player of the Year.

"He sees things that some other players don't see," Alta coach Lee Mitchell said. "Reads the game a little bit better than (many) kids do at his age."

Bain is the type of player who probably could score more goals himself if his team needed it. The Hawks possess plenty of capable scorers up top, however, with Daniel Tree, Bryson Colemere and Mitch Fisher combining for 31 goals through 18 games.

It lets Bain sit back and set plays in motion – which is a much more satisfying role for him anyway.

"You're not just helping yourself, but you're helping the team," Bain said, describing what he enjoys most about being a center midfielder. "Most of our goals this season have come through really good assists. And it just shows the goals we're scoring are not lucky goals. They're goals we build as a team and everybody is involved. It's good to be one of the final steps in scoring the goal. I love getting the assists."

Freedom to make plays comes with the center-mid territory for Bain. He can push the attack forward or drop back and play defense with equal ease. Bain measures his contributions through his involvement on defense.

Playing aggressively on defense, he says, opens up the offensive game so much more quickly for him.

"You're always involved," Bain said. "You're never waiting for the ball. You're never getting, I guess you could say, bored. You're always involved. You're the middle of everything and you can really control the game instead of leaving it to other people to take charge. You get the opportunity to take charge yourself."

Bain comes from a family with a strong soccer pedigree. His older sister, Sarah, played for Alta's girls soccer team from 2008 to 2011. She played on three Class 5A championship teams in her high school career.

He is still seeking his first state title and Bain admits the thought of joining Sarah in the championship conversation helps drive his efforts on and off the pitch.

"That's always been a hidden motivator just to go get it," Bain said. "It's been really good for me because it makes it that much closer and that much more doable. It's been a good motivator. I really want to get that because I want to be up there with her. She's an awesome sister."

Bain will join BYU in the Premier Development League this summer after graduating from Alta. He has signed a semi-pro contract with the Cougars and will spend a season in Provo before departing on a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the fall.

If he continues to progress at the rate he has progressed with the Hawks, Mitchell sees no reason why Bain can't take another step up in PDL. After all, the senior captain has been a steadying influence for Alta all spring.

"He does a good job in a leadership role," Mitchell said. "He keeps people calm and focused on what we need to do."

John Coon covers Utah high school sports for MaxPreps. You can contact him at john_coon@hotmail.com and follow him on Twitter at @johncoonsports