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Ogden High’s Sofia Gray, left, competes with Morgan’s Amy Thomas for possession during the first half of a home match Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at Spence Eccles Ogden Community Sports Complex in Ogden.

CONNER BECKER, Standard-Examiner

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Ogden High’s Analycia Francisco (6) races with the ball during the first half of a home match on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at Spence Eccles Ogden Community Sports Complex in Ogden.

CONNER BECKER, Standard-Examiner

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Ogden High’s Grace Malan (00) boots the ball during the first half of a home match on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at Spence Eccles Ogden Community Sports Complex in Ogden.

CONNER BECKER, Standard-Examiner

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Ogden High’s Kate Pulley (8) celebrates with teammate Megan Beau (26) after a goal during the first half of a home match on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at Spence Eccles Ogden Community Sports Complex in Ogden.

CONNER BECKER, Standard-Examiner

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Ogden High’s Grace Malan (00) stops a Morgan shot attempt during the first half of a home match on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at Spence Eccles Ogden Community Sports Complex in Ogden.

CONNER BECKER, Standard-Examiner

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OGDEN — Two goals between Ogden High girls soccer’s sophomore Seren Gee and junior Megan Beus were enough to write off Morgan 2-1 and snap a three-match losing streak in Thursday’s Region 13 rivalry bout at Spence Eccles Ogden Community Sports Complex.

The Tigers (3-6) flashed their defensive potential by holding Morgan (3-5) to just one score — a miscommunication in the box with 36 seconds left in the first half that allowed a squeaker shot by senior Lacie Poll, keeping the Trojans within an arm’s length.

Ogden head coach Alexis King was proud of her team’s second-half game plan and how her defense limited Morgan’s inside looks down the stretch.

“I think it shows that they’re fighters,” King said.

“I know the girls are always really motivated to play this game,” King continued. “I think that’s where some of the excitement comes with it. … We’ve had a very tough preseason that’s tested us a lot and I think we’ve been focusing in on our intensity and keeping our composure.”

Gee, assisted by sophomore Rikley Moss on a cross from the right side of the box, punched in the Tigers’ first score at the 16-minute mark and Beus punched in the second score past Morgan keeper Maddie Fisher seconds later.

Reflecting on Ogden’s defensive performance, Gee praised the Tigers’ back four and senior goalie Grace Malan for not letting Poll’s late answer rattle her group’s mojo headed into the break.

“At the first (match) of the season we had trouble communicating,” Gee said. “We’ve gotten really good because they’re so reliable.”

The second period featured a far more aggressive attack from Morgan, albeit from a distance. Ogden forced the Trojans’ looks outside the box, with multiple shots by Morgan senior Macie Burton limited to a free kick with 17 minutes left and an 80-footer inside the 1-minute mark.

Morgan head coach Bryan Searle acknowledged his offense didn’t quite dig into the Tigers’ defense as much as he’d hoped, but he was still encouraged by his group’s willingness to get physical and turn the tables throughout the night.

“I don’t think we took advantage of getting the ball up and over as often as we should but I thought we knocked the ball, we had a fair amount of possession,” Searle said.

The Trojans turned to sophomore Skye Bernardo to tend the goal in the second half, with the underclassman rendering the Tigers silent through 40 minutes in the net. Searle praised his backup for not letting the score slip away.

Despite the loss, Searle gave nothing but kudos to Morgan’s foes up Interstate 84.

“We love playing them and they love playing us,” Searle said. “There’s just such a rivalry here. Our players, and their players, step up a level and make it a close game. … If I had to say anything between the last two games it’s just the heart we played with — the last two games have been the hardest we’ve played.”

Connect with prep sports reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net and X @ctbecker.