Abby Hanton, in white, will play soccer after graduating as a PCHS Miner. Photo: Jill Kindt

PARK CITY, Utah — Abby Hanton, a senior at Park City High School has signed with Division I, Louisiana Tech University to continue playing soccer after she graduates.

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Hanton, who plays forward, and her brother have grown up in the Park City School District. She’s played in just about every soccer program offered in the greater area, including traveling to Salt Lake City.

Committing to the LTU Bulldogs on Thursday is a culmination of 5’9″ Hanton’s undeniable talent and unwavering passion on the field which has caught the eye of several college scouts for several years. College in Kansas was on the short list for her proud parents Taylor and Brian.

The Hanton Family. Photo: Allison Walkins

Hanton has been on the Varsity Miners Girls Soccer Team since she was a sophomore at PCHS. Her coach there, Anthony DiCicco, also coaches for the Park City Soccer Club on which she played for longer than many of her teammates.

Abby Hanton in red. Photo: Allison Walkins

DiCicco’s a former soccer coach from the University of Vermont and in Park City he manages the program that advises academically-rooted pathways to student-athletes who are interested in playing soccer in college.

He told TownLift, “I’m incredibly proud of Abby and love that she is taking this next step and continuing to play the game at the next level. Her relentless pursuit of her college soccer dream has allowed her to develop into not only a great player, but a leader and a special human.”

Coach continued,”It’s not just through her successes but also through tremendous resilience and the ability to respond positively to the setbacks and disappointments that reveal her resolve to make her dream into her reality. We all wish her well next year at Louisiana Tech.”

Abby Hanton, who has been on the Park City High School Soccer Team for years, has committed to continue in college. — Abby Hanton, who has been on the Park City High School Soccer Team for years, Photo: courtesy of Anthony Dicicco // PCHS Athletics // TownLift // Michele Roepke

Hanton’s mom takes care of the babies at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City and her dad is a former Executive Director of Basin Rec. As such, his daughter has spent season after season playing on the very fields he was charged with keeping in pristine condition for not just Abby, but the whole soccer-savvy community of Park City.