OGDEN — Basketball doesn’t start for another three weeks, but Ogden High’s girls soccer team got somewhat of an early start to hoops season in its playoff game Saturday against Carbon.

The No. 3 Tigers scored two first-half goals from rebounds and had several more rebounded shot attempts in a 4-0 win against the No. 6 Dinos and advanced to the 3A state tournament semifinals Thursday, Oct. 21.

Ogden (14-4) defender Sae Obayashi came up for a corner kick early in the first half and actually had the first shot attempt when the ball came in. A defender blocked it out to another player, but the shot went off the keeper and Obayashi hit the rebound into the roof of the net with the toe of her shoe.

Celine Buttars made it 2-0 with a one-timed shot into the bottom corner. Ruth Larsen collected Ogden’s third goal with a bottom-corner shot, and Ajae Belliston converted a rebounded shot that got to her after a cross deflected off the Carbon goalkeeper’s foot.

“I think what really worked for us is in the first half is combining in the back, possessing really well along our back line and through the midfield,” Larsen said.

As for the success and tenacity on rebounded shots, it’s the idea that was important to Ogden.

“Throughout the whole season, we always have to make sure we’re framing the goal, we’re following, I think it’s just really important because those are the easy shots that we can get in,” Larsen said about crashing rebounded shots.

Patrick Carr, Standard-Examiner Ogden’s Ruth Larsen pressures a Carbon High player during a 3A state quarterfinal match Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021.

The win keeps alive the Tigers’ chances of winning a second state championship in three seasons and playing in the state title game for the third consecutive year.

Standing in their way in Thursday’s semifinal match (7:30 p.m. at Jordan High) is No. 2 Canyon View, which beat No. 7 Judge Memorial. Canyon View (from Cedar City) beat Carbon twice this year, both times by scores of 3-1.

“We’re really excited. We had a heartbreaking loss last year in the finals, so I think it’s really important for us to push and get all the way there again,” Larsen said.

Ogden only needed the four first-half goals to beat Carbon on a clear afternoon and the Tigers wanted more in the second half, but just couldn’t get any.

Head coach Ryan Robinson egged the team on in the second half, wanting them to press ball handlers and play a high defensive line.

They kept shooting, but Carbon’s goalkeeper was directly responsible for keeping at least two shots out of the net after her frustrating first half.

MORGAN 2, JUAN DIEGO 0

No. 1 Morgan advanced to the 3A state semifinals with a shutout win over Juan Diego in Saturday’s quarterfinal.

Lacie Poll and Brecklee Charlton scored the Trojans’ (16-2) goals, with assists from Macie Burton and Jayda Jones.

Madison Wangsgard kept the shutout in goal, her eighth of the season.

Morgan will play in the 5 p.m. semifinal Thursday at Jordan High against No. 4 RSL Academy, the boarding school that’s attached to Real Salt Lake’s training complex out in Herriman.

AMERICAN HERITAGE 3, ST. JOSEPH 2

St. Joseph’s season came to an end in Saturday’s 2A quarterfinals. The Jayhawks led 1-0 at halftime. Ellen Rickerd scored two goals, both of which were assisted by Abby Gough.

St. Joseph finishes with a 10-6 record.

Newsletter