OGDEN — A lot of things have made Ogden High’s boys soccer team successful this season, perhaps none more than the play of its defense.

The Tigers have allowed seven goals in 14 matches this season. That’s top in the 3A classification in total goals allowed and goals-per-game allowed.

Their defense is anchored by central defenders Jose Castellano and Lincoln Barnes, and outside backs Efrain Barcenas and Boston Rodriguez.

Ogden’s goalkeeper is Rick Duran, a converted striker who’s just happy to be playing soccer at all.

Duran’s sophomore year, the COVID-19 season, he got taken out by the goalkeeper on a play against Ben Lomond and hurt his back. Last year, he sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee early on and didn’t play the rest of the year.

“It sucked not being able to play the game that I love, not playing with the people that I’ve been playing for a while,” Duran said.

Tuesday, he was introduced on Senior Night after a 1-0 shutout win over Ben Lomond in the penultimate regular-season game. Finally, Duran had stayed healthy long enough to play most of a season.

“It feels great, it really does. All the other years were cut short. It feels really good to be able to play with these guys even longer,” Duran said after Monday’s practice. “I love soccer. Every minute, just the best feeling.”

Duran started the season at striker, just happy to be back playing.

On March 29 against Grantsville, the team’s seventh game of the year, Duran ended up at goalkeeper in place of injured starter Hunter Paskins. The Tigers won that game 1-0 and Duran, who had previously played keeper on a club team, got credit for the clean sheet.

“I know keeper isn’t his forte, but he’s come back from his previous injuries and then filling in that big void in the back line where we needed a keeper, he’s been not just a great player for us, but he’s kind of been a great inspiration for the rest of the boys,” OHS coach Todd Scott said. “It’s been a big boost just mentally and physically.”

They won the next two games (2-0 at Ben Lomond and 1-0 at home to Morgan) with Duran in goal. Scott stuck with Duran in the net even when Paskins got healthy, figuring to not fix what wasn’t broken.

At Layton Christian on April 7, though, it looked like Duran’s injury curse struck again.

Duran jumped up in the penalty box to collect a cross and got hit in the ribs by an LCA player who went for the ball with his head, but completely missed. Duran stayed down injured for several minutes, had to be gingerly helped off the field and it looked a safe assumption that it was a serious injury.

The Eagles beat Ogden 1-0 that day with a goal that, in fairness, would’ve probably beaten every high school goalkeeper in the state.

For Duran, the fortunate part was finding out a couple days later that his injury was “only” seven bruised ribs, which still bother him a little.

“A little bit, yeah, but not as bad as a couple days ago,” he said after Monday’s practice when asked if he was still feeling pain in his ribs.

The injury only kept him out of the lineup for the rest of the LCA game. Part of that was the “good fortune” that he had bruised ribs. The other was Duran being intent on playing through the injury.

The next game, April 12 at home against South Summit, Duran and Paskins each tended goal for one half in a 6-0 shutout win. Maybe the highlight was that Duran scored one of the Tigers’ six goals.

“When I was playing against South Summit I was used to using my hands, so I was kind of tempted to grab the ball. I had to get used to it again,” he said.

Duran’s goal brought his season tally to two. As goalkeeper, he has seven shutouts. The South Summit game also brought out one of the things he loves about soccer.

“I love the feeling when you score and everybody’s just chanting for you, you know what I mean? That’s a really good feeling,” Duran said.

Ogden hasn’t allowed a goal in the four games since Duran returned to the lineup. The Tigers could also still finish as co-Region 13 champions, but need Morgan to beat Layton Christian on Monday for that to happen.

Even if the region title eludes Ogden, its postseason prospects appear good. The Tigers finished 11-3 in the regular season and were ranked as high as No. 3 in the 3A boys soccer RPI rankings earlier this week, guaranteeing a first-round bye and a favorable second-round playoff game.

However long Ogden’s playoff run is, Duran’s had a senior season to remember for many reasons, some that he couldn’t have predicted.

Newsletter