3A playoffs: Ogden’s season ends on Judge Memorial golden goal; Morgan advances to semifinals
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- Ogden High boys soccer players walk toward the bench as Judge Memorial celebrates a golden-goal win in the 3A state quarterfinals Saturday, May 7, 2022.
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- Ogden’s Luis Velasco Perez challenges for the ball during the 3A boys soccer state quarterfinals against Judge Memorial on Saturday, May 7, 2022.
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- Ogden’s Lincoln Barnes (29) jumps up for a corner kick during the 3A boys soccer state quarterfinals against Judge Memorial on Saturday, May 7, 2022.
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- Ogden’s Gabriel Hinkson (42) holds off a Judge Memorial defender during the 3A boys soccer state quarterfinals Saturday, May 7, 2022.
OGDEN — Even in a sport that has 80 regulation minutes — ample time for a million things to happen — soccer is fickle in that one mistake, one good pass or even one deflection can make the ultimate difference between a win and a loss.
Ogden High’s boys soccer team has been on both sides of that coin this season. Saturday, the Tigers (12-4) ended up like many teams: wondering what could’ve been.
The Tigers’ playoff journey ended at home Saturday in a 2-1, extra-time loss against three-time defending state champion Judge Memorial, who scored on a deflection amid a chaotic sequence in the penalty box toward the end of the first extra-time period.
And so began the emotional season-ending hugs, tears and handshakes.
“My boys played well. They did everything I asked them and then some, and we had a couple mistakes, it cost us. You know what, I couldn’t be prouder of my boys,” Ogden coach Todd Scott said.
Judge advances to next week’s semifinals. Ogden is left to rue its missed chances, of which there were a few.
Leading 1-0 in the second half, Ogden had three chances in one move to take a 2-0 lead. Brigham Aardema’s close-range shot was well-saved, the ball bounced back to Luis Velasco Perez on the right side and his thundering shot hit the crossbar. The Tigers had a rebound shot and that one was also pushed aside.
Minutes later, Judge took advantage of an Ogden defensive mistake and scored on Nahuel Batalla’s header to tie the game 1-1.
It was the first goal scored on the Tigers since April 7 at Layton Christian and the first goal scored on goalkeeper Rick Duran since he took over as the starter on March 29. Only twice this season had a team scored more than one goal on Ogden before Saturday.
In sort of the same fashion, Judge took advantage of an Ogden miscue in defense in the final minute of the first period of extra time and Luke Hartung scored the game-winning goal, setting off a raucous celebration on one end.
Simultaneously, Ogden’s players walked back to their bench, some already having taken their shirts off. The Tigers had nine seniors on the team this year.
“They know it’s devastating. These boys are very emotional. I mean this is it, they’re done with high school soccer,” Scott said.
Ogden led 1-0 at halftime and deserved that lead.
The Tigers had controlled possession most of the game, had a handful of corner kicks and some other long-range chances before Gabriel Hinkson was hauled down from behind in the box for a penalty kick.
Hinkson’s spot kick was saved, but Jace Oliverson crashed in for the rebound and his 11th goal of the season.
Judge pressed hard right from the second-half restart — things got physical and chippy overall in the second half — and early on, Judge’s Evan Nelson had a wide-open shot from 10 yards in the box that he scuffed wide.
Aardema shot into the side-netting a few minutes later as the game swung from nearly being a 1-1 tie to nearly being a 2-0 Tigers lead.
Late in regulation, as Judge searched for a winning goal, Duran turned away a low free-kick to keep the score 1-1.
MORGAN 4, JUAB 1
NEPHI — On the road, No. 6 Morgan scored four first-half goals to cruise in a 3A quarterfinal win.
Rory Williams, Logan Phillips, Jett Beckstrom and Beau Johnson all scored for Morgan (12-5). Ty Warner, Cameron Burt, Neal Gailey and Bryan Allgaier assisted one goal each.
The Trojans move on to Tuesday’s semifinal at 7:30 p.m. at Juan Diego High in Draper. They’ll face No. 2 Real Salt Lake Academy, which is the defending 2A state champions.
LAYTON CHRISTIAN 3, JUAN DIEGO 0
LAYTON — Guilherme Palacio kept the clean sheet as No. 1 Layton Christian blanked No. 8 Juan Diego Catholic (8-8) in the 3A quarterfinals.
Enzo Jaques tallied a goal and two assists for Layton Christian (15-3). Isaac Cubero and Theo Araujo each scored a goal.
LCA will face No. 5 Judge Memorial at 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 10, at Jordan High School.
SYRACUSE 4, CLEARFIELD 0
CLEARFIELD — Late Friday, Britton Moline kept a clean sheet and Syracuse scored twice in each half in a region win at Clearfield (2-13, 0-12 Region 1).
Ryker Smith had a goal and an assist for Syracuse (12-3, 9-3) Devin Bailey, Jack Cook and Andrick Villafana each scored while Easton Cragun, Cole Affleck and Corbin Bodily tallied assists.