Phenomenal Franco

She roved the back half of the pitch with watchful eyes, sucking up any offensive threat like a vacuum and booming the ball toward the opposition with cannon-like force.

Taylor Franco was Sutter High's first and last line of defense. At her sweeper position, the senior was an imposing figure to any player who dared to test her ability.

And those who did? Well, they learned quickly that it would take everything they had and then some to get past the Mid-Valley's best soccer player. A leader with acumen, sheer talent and pure desire to win, Franco was a driving force behind Sutter's unprecedented fifth straight Northern Section title.

When the Huskies won the 2009 crown, the senior said the feeling was "phenomenal." It's also an adjective that can be used to describe her play, which made her a shoe in for The Appeal-Democrat's All-Area girls soccer Player of the Year.

"Her ability and her composure were incredible," said Huskies coach Jason Spain. "Her power — we'd be under fire, (opponents) would bring pressure, but then when she relieved that pressure, she puts pressure on the other team."

The veteran coach's description is spot on.

Many prep defenders who break up a play will simply clear it or boot it as hard as possible. Not Franco. When given the chance she fires off a forward-seeking missile that flies over the heads of the defenders and midfielders, only to land squarely in the opponents' zone.

"A big part of my career is being able to kick like that," said Franco, who was named the Butte View League MVP. "I really enjoy it, I like the big clears."

She can also have the ball land squarely in the back of the net. Playing in the prestigious Garces Tournament championship game, the Huskies fell 3-2 in overtime to state powerhouse — and much larger school — Bakersfield Christian. The Huskies reached extra time because of Franco's two goals — which were struck from 50 and 55-yards out.

And they were not lucky lobs. According to Spain — they were lasers. "The amazing thing was that the goalie wasn't far (outside the box)," the coach said. "I think there was a chance they (the goals) would have beaten (U.S. national goalie) Hope Solo.

"She just had a serious drive to win games, to the point of smashing in a bunch of goals."

In all, Franco tallied 10 goals, but it was her defense that shined. In 19 games, the opposition mustered up six total scores. The scant number of goals is a direct result of Franco's defensive prowess.

On the field, Franco does whatever is necessary to help the team. From telling her teammates where to play to barking out words of encouragement to moving up and taking headers toward the net on corner kicks — she's ready. Her junior year, Franco even filled in as goalie during the 2008 section championship game. It was her first time ever playing the position and she stopped a pair of penalty kicks en route to the 1-0 win over Lassen.

"Taylor matured over the last four years and she learned how to lead and win," Spain said. "Her leadership ability and having knowledge of what to do her senior year was almost like (John) Stockton at the end of those (Utah) Jazz years.

"She knew where everybody was going to be."

The end result of her senior year was an 18-1 season that culminated in the Huskies' 3-0 win over Lassen in the title game on February 28th. When the 80th minute passed, the Huskies mobbed Franco in a gesture that showed how valuable she was and how much she was appreciated by her teammates.

In that moment, her career ending with a title, Franco uttered the word that came to define her year.

"It's so phenomenal," she said.

In her coaches mind, it was fit to describe her prep career.

"She had a phenomenal four years," Spain said.