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Pleasant Grove's Trey Okey contributed a PK late during his team's 4-1 win over Spanish Fork. April 30, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Provo Daily Herald

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Pleasant Grove's Mauricio Rondan penetrates toward the goal during his team's 4-1 win over Spanish Fork. April 30, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Provo Daily Herald

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Pleasant Grove defender TJ Ashby boots the ball toward the offensive end during his team's 4-1 win over Spanish Fork. April 30, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Provo Daily Herald

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Pleasant Grove coach Chris Ecalono instructs his team during the half of the Viking's 4-1 win over Spanish Fork. April 30, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Provo Daily Herald

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Pleasant Grove's Trey Okey is tripped up in the penalty box during his team's 4-1 win over Spanish Fork. April 30, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Provo Daily Herald

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Pleasant Grove's Thiago Silva battles for control of the ball during his team's 4-1 win over Spanish Fork. April 30, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Provo Daily Herald

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Pleasant Grove's Beckham Thomas looks for passing lanes during his team's 4-1 win over Spanish Fork. April 30, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Provo Daily Herald

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Pleasant Grove's Trey Okey boots through a PK during his team's 4-1 win over Spanish Fork. April 30, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Provo Daily Herald

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Pleasant Grove's Karsten Smith advances the ball past the defense during his team's 4-1 win over Spanish Fork. April 30, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Provo Daily Herald

❮ ❯

The Pleasant Grove Boys Soccer team has a lot of assistant coaches, perhaps more than most teams around the state, and it’s a team that has also secured a 16-0 undefeated mark on the season.

Coincidence? Not according to long-time Viking coach Chris Ecalono.

The Vikings secured their 16th win of the season by defeating Region 7 foe Spanish Fork in fairly typical fashion on Thursday. Ecalono’s team controlled most of the possession, leading to prime scoring opportunities while forcing the Dons into committing what proved to be some critical penalties of which three directly led to goals.

Administering it all from the sidelines was Ecalono along with a bevy of former players who are now assistants.

“We have eight or nine alumni coaches that are now mentors to all our current players,” Ecalono said. “We have a culture here and we all love the program. The alumni all add to the culture, so there’s a buy-in and history to everything which makes every year special. It really does.”

The listed assistant coaches listed on Pleasant Grove’s roster include Ryan LeMone, Chris Jenkinson, Matt Embley, Duane Newman and Tyler Ashby, although there’s at least three more willing to add their services, according to Ecalono.

What all of it has procured is a spotless campaign during the regular season with state tournament play on tap. It’s all come about much like it did during Thursday’s win, led by standouts such as Trey Okey, Mauricio Rondan, and TJ Ashby, among several others.

“I saw a team out there tonight that simply knows how to win,” Ecalono said. “Our players are very versatile in playing different positions, so when we get an early yellow card, like we did tonight, it sort of throws us out of what we normally do, but I was proud of the team for taking the ownership for their new roles we had to adjust to. That’s what has made this team special, as much as anything else.”

But Ecalono is quick to remind that despite his team’s current record, nothing has really been accomplished yet.

“They haven’t done anything yet, and that’s my constant reminder to my players,” he said. “No, we’ve never had a 16-0 record here at Pleasant Grove. We’ve come close, sure, but it’s continuing to get better every day with the goal of winning a state championship. But I certainly like where we’re headed and how we continue to improve.”

That’s not to say Ecalono isn’t keenly aware of what accomplishments this team has already notched on its belt.

“Tonight gives us the region championship, and we haven’t won a region championship since 2021. It’s our fourth region title in school history, so that adds to the legacy,” he said. “So this victory was important because it means we win the region outright.”

Ecalono’s team isn’t the only team from Pleasant Grove enjoying an undefeated run on the season. Just recently the Viking’s girls basketball team went all the way, winning a state championship with nary a loss on its record. It’s a singular accomplishment, and while Ecalono is excited about the potential to make an undefeated run, he’s also very wary of it.

“Getting complacent is always a worry with every team, but it’s not just the kids. We as adults fall into the same trap all the time,” Ecalono said. “There’s some special spell in soccer when the so-called ‘Soccer Gods’ are with you, and yeah, we believe in stats and data, and making your own luck, but you’re always worried about the complacency and taking things for granted.”

For the reason stated above, Ecalono has stacked his sidelines with former Pleasant Grove players who have been through it before as a constant reminder to his current players of what it takes.

“It’s why I try and get as much knowledge as I can to help remind these kids how teams have come up just short in the past and how to perhaps avoid the same traps,” Ecalono concluded. “We’ll do everything we can to prevent falling into those same issues that have prevented teams from reaching their full potential in the past. We’ve had games this year that could have easily have gone the other way, and we remind our players of that constantly. So it’s all a learning process, but yeah, we’re happy, but certainly not content with where we’re at right now.”