Boys soccer: ‘Captains hat trick’ leads Ogden over Juan Diego 5-0 in 3A quarterfinals
OGDEN — In a fun sort of way, Ogden High boys soccer scored a hat trick Saturday.
Lincoln Barnes, Taylor Pierce and Ben Points are the three captains on the Tiger team, and each tallied a goal in the first half of a 3A state quarterfinal against Juan Diego.
“That’s super special; I don’t have any words for that. I think it all comes down to the rest of our team getting us in position to take those opportunities,” Barnes said. “(Captains) make sure the attitude and the morale stays high; that’s what carries things forward. That makes a huge difference post-season … positive reinforcement.”
No. 3 Ogden tacked on two late second-half goals and advanced to the semifinals with a 5-0 shutout victory over the No. 11 Soaring Eagle.
Barnes got Ogden (13-3) on the board with a goal off a free kick from near midfield in the 22nd minute.
“I’ve been doing those all season. I saw the keeper was a little off his line and decided to chip one in and see what happens. I had to show him when you see me out on the field, you can’t be doing that,” Barnes said. “The goal is always to score; put it as close to the net as I can and cause some chaos.”
A little more than five minutes later, Pierce found the net from the right side and then Points completed the “captains hat trick” in the 30th minute as Ogden led 3-0 at the break.
At halftime, Ogden’s focus was to keep the pressure on, and the Tigers finally put a paw print on the win with goals by Harry Hoskins and Jace Rodriguez 121 seconds apart in the final five minutes.
“We didn’t want Juan Diego to think they had a chance to get back in it … that there were no chances,” Barnes said. “Keep playing the way we came out in the first half, try to get more and coast the rest of the game.”
Sophomore goalie Xavier Peregrina helped the Tigers to their eighth shutout of the year, with a little help from his friends.
“Defense starts with our keeper Xavier. It’s his first year playing for us and he’s done quite a job,” Barnes said. “One of our center backs went down in the third game against Davis and Brayden Wilson really stepped up this year. He’s played a fantastic season.
“It’s kind of like a brotherhood back there, everyone covering for each other, making sure if someone gets beat, the next person is right there; kind of cycle through,” Barnes said.
Peregrina didn’t have much to do as his defense kept Juan Diego (6-7) far away from the net for most of the game.
“We’ve been working on it all season long; communication, moving the ball back and forth, playing from the back,” Peregrina said.
The Tigers look forward to a rematch with No. 2 Morgan in the semifinals at 3:45 p.m. Thursday, May 9, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman — the team that sent them packing a year ago. Ogden and Morgan split two Region 13 matches this year.
“I’m super excited. We made it there last year and things didn’t go the way we wanted. Hopefully it will be different this year,” Barnes said.
MORGAN 3, SOUTH SUMMIT 0
MORGAN — Ronan Ratchford made two saves in a shutout to help No. 2 Morgan advance past No. 7 South Summit (9-7) in the 3A state quarterfinals.
Morgan (14-2) netted three times in the first half: Jett Beckstrom in the fourth minute, Trace Henderson in the 19th minute and Nathan Haws in the 30th. Beckstrom, Cody Adams and Connor Canfield each tallied an assist.
Morgan next faces No. 3 Ogden in the 3A semifinals at 3:45 p.m. Thursday, May 9, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman. The two split their seasons series 1-1.
ST. JOSEPH 4, GUNNISON VALLEY 1
OGDEN — Isiah Flores scored one goal in each half as No. 1 St. Joseph dispatched No. 9 Gunnison Valley (10-5) in the 2A state quarterfinals.
Tomas Paraizo and Daniel Fontes each scored first-half goals for St. Joseph (11-3).
The Jayhawks advance to the 2A semifinals where they will meet No. 5 Rowland Hall (9-6) at 9 a.m. Thursday, May 9, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman. St. Joseph won the season series 2-0.
Brett Hein contributed to score reports.