Patrick Carr, Standard-Examiner

HERRIMAN — Normally, high school girls soccer teams in the 3A classification don’t mercy-rule other teams or score nine goals in a state semifinal.

Apparently, Ogden’s team isn’t normal. Six different players scored a total of nine goals as the No. 2 Tigers thrashed No. 6 Juan Diego 9-1 in Thursday evening’s 3A semifinal at Zions Bank Stadium.

Nevaeh Peregrina turned in her second goal of the game in the 71st minute to give Ogden an eight-goal lead and force a mercy-rule ending.

A year ago, Ogden walked off the same ZBS turf field after losing a penalty shootout to Real Salt Lake Academy in the 3A championship game that featured a turn of cold rain and snow.

Thursday, under 70-degree sunshine, the Tigers (17-2) had a red-hot start and kept a high level against an overwhelmed Juan Diego.

Patrick Carr, Standard-Examiner

“I think considering the circumstances of last year with us losing like that was just something that fueled us so much,” Peregrina said. “All we’ve been able to say at practices is ‘This is our revenge tour, we’re coming back to get our state championship title back, we want to do this.’ We’ve been working hard no matter the days.”

Ruth Larsen’s one-on-one goal got things started in the 12th minute. Peregrina barely missed a volley in the 14th minute and had a goal disallowed for offside in the 15th.

Maya Robinson’s one-time shot in the 16th minute and Megan Beus’ goal in the 17th resulted in a 3-0 lead, a goalkeeper substitution for Juan Diego and three goals in five minutes for Ogden.

“I’m not the only one, some of the seniors, we were nervous. I mean, I was shaking before the game, I don’t know why, I just was,” Larsen said. “But we came out, we scored one, we scored another and it was just like, well if we’re going to score two, why not a few more?”

Larsen scored another goal, her 22nd of the year, in the 33rd minute for a 4-0 halftime lead. She was four good Juan Diego saves plus a shot off the post away from a seven-goal game.

“I’m grateful my team can convert on my misses,” Larsen said. “I hit one off the post and Elle (Weston) came in and had a fantastic finish. I mean, I would love a hat trick but we had three girls with two goals.

“I think we were excited. When we are out there having fun, we play well, we move the ball well, we were selfless in front of goals. I know a couple girls that gave up balls they could’ve scored on.”

Brianna Kalista had Ogden’s defensive highlight in the 28th minute, sliding across the face of the goal to tackle the ball away from a JD player who had a wide look at the net.

Kate Pulley fired in just after the second-half restart and Juan Diego scored about 20 seconds later to get within 5-1.

Peregrina finally got her goal in the 53rd minute and freshman Elle Weston scored a worldie in the 62nd minute to make it 7-1, looping a half-volley from the left side over the keeper on the right side.

In the 70th minute, Larsen had a clear look at a hat trick, her shot was blocked and Beus scored the rebound for her second goal of the game after entering the game with three all season.

A minute later, Peregrina slid and one-timed Larsen’s cross into the roof of the net for the mercy-rule goal, her second of the game and her 28th of the year.

In the end, Ogden won by mercy rule for the sixth time in the last eight games.

“Honestly, seeing those first three goals go in, it was just such a great feeling and we just kept putting them in the back of the net,” Peregrina said. “After every single one, we were like, ‘Ok, let’s keep going, we’re not stopping, we’re going to keep going.’ So I feel great, I feel amazing.”

The Tigers face Morgan at 2 p.m. Saturday at America First Field (formerly Rio Tinto Stadium) in Sandy for the 3A title. They beat the Trojans 5-1 and 4-1 in Region 13 play this year en route to an unbeaten region championship.

Connect with reporter Patrick Carr via email at pcarr@standard.net, Twitter @patrickcarr_ and Instagram @standardexaminersports.

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