Right touch by Rivas sends Ogden boys soccer past Ben Lomond 1-0 in 3A semifinals
Tigers appearing in back-to-back state title matches
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- Teammates toss Ogden High player Francisco Rivas (29) in to the air to celebrate an overtime victory over Ben Lomond in the 3A boys soccer semifinals Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Herriman.
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- Ben Lomond’s Pedro Rodriguez (35) and Ogden’s Kye Jensen go airborne to battle for the ball in the 3A boys soccer semifinals Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Herriman.
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- Ogden High’s Luis Velasco, from left, Gerardo “Jerry” Esquivel and Francisco Rivas celebrate after defeating Ben Lomond 1-0 in overtime during the 3A boys soccer semifinals Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Herriman.
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- Ben Lomond’s Amir Odeh (6) and Ogden’s Luis Velasco (7) battle for possession during the 3A boys soccer semifinals Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Herriman.
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- Ogden High’s Xavier Peregrina leans to make a save against Ben Lomond in the 3A boys soccer semifinals Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Herriman.
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- Ben Lomond’s Kevin Nuci rears back to send the ball down field against Ogden in the 3A boys soccer semifinals Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Herriman.
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- Ben Lomond’s keeper Oscar Castro Moreno collides with an Ogden player in the 3A boys soccer semifinals Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Herriman.
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- Ogden High’s Gabe Liptrap (30) tries to possess the ball in the 3A boys soccer semifinals against Ben Lomond on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Herriman.
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- Ben Lomond’s Luka Banda (13) heads the ball in the 3A boys soccer semifinals against Ogden on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Herriman.
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- Ogden’s Jace Rodriguez gestures after a call in the 3A boys soccer semifinals against Ben Lomond on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Herriman.
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- Ben Lomond’s Luka Banda (13) tries to navigate away from Ogden High’s Luis Velasco (7) and Kye Jensen (31) in the 3A boys soccer semifinals Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Herriman.
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- Ogden High’s Jace Rodriguez stretches to reach the ball in the 3A boys soccer semifinals against Ben Lomond on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Herriman.
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- Ben Lomond’s Kai Yanagibashi pushes the ball down field in the 3A boys soccer semifinals against Ogden on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Herriman.
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- Ogden High’s Adam Jenks chests the ball to possess it in the 3A boys soccer semifinals against Ben Lomond on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Herriman.
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- Ben Lomond’s Amir Odeh strikes the ball against Ogden in the 3A boys soccer semifinals Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Herriman.
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- Ogden High’s Gerardo (Jerry) Esquivel rises to attempt a header against Ben Lomond in the 3A boys soccer semifinals Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Herriman.
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- Ogden High’s Kye Jensen moves the ball against Ben Lomond in the 3A boys soccer semifinals Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Herriman.
HERRIMAN — Lingering around the left post, Ogden High’s Francisco Rivas isn’t going to deviate from the script a handful of minutes into a scoreless overtime.
Instead, Rivas stayed the course on a ball played by teammate Jace Rodriguez, who found Gabe Liptrap near the top of the box. Eyeing BL goalkeeper Oscar Castro Moreno, Liptrap fired left of the keeper and into the path of Rivas with a perfect pocket.
Patience — and plenty of it — favored the undefeated Tigers, evading No. 5 Ben Lomond 1-0 in overtime to win the rivals’ 3A state boys soccer semifinal matchup Thursday at Zions Bank Stadium. It’ll be consecutive title game appearances for the Tigers on Saturday.
Recalling the fortuitous sequence, Liptrap triggered his opportunity to win it for Ogden (17-0) right there with his boot.
“I’m not gonna lie, I went for the shot,” Liptrap said. “Luckily, (Rivas) was there to clean it up.”
When the moment arose, Rivas struck.
“They always tell us to be on that back post no matter what,” Rivas said. “It just worked out in my favor. … The whole time, you’ve got to be resilient and fight back. Whatever the challenge, we have to overcome it to get to our goal.”
The sudden-death score marks a bittersweet end to Paul Baltazar’s first season in charge of the Scots, finishing 10-5 with the deepest postseason run the program’s seen since 2010. Ben Lomond had won seven consecutive matches entering its third meeting with Ogden this spring, ending the season 0-3 against the Tigers.
Liptrap said defeating a testy rival, with potential state glory on the line, in a semifinal took the series to a whole new level.
“It’s the element (of) the atmosphere,” Liptrap said. “It’s a lot more energy just because it’s a backyard rivalry, but we’ve made it there once before and we can make it (again).”
Claiming the last regular-season meeting 1-0, Ogden once again struggled to replicate the moments expected of its 4.9 goals-per-match average. The Tigers led BL 4-1 in shots-on-goal during the first half, including three free kick chances.
Ogden goalkeeper Xavier Peregrina quadrupled his first-half services in the second half, rising to five total saves with the shutout. Peregrina staved off looks from Luka Banda, Pedro Rodriguez, Matthew Ayala Bravo and Kevin Nuci.
With an unwavering tempo on both ends, Ben Lomond left Baltazar impressed with just how closely his group battled into extra time.
“Sometimes it’s out of our hands,” Baltazar said. “We just got to live with the consequences. I’m proud of our boys and the work they’ve put in so far. The saddest part is that it has to end, but I don’t think they’re deserving of this ending.
“The way we played shows the caliber of the team we did have. We put it out here on full display for everyone to watch.”
Despite losing three consecutive matches to their rivals, the Scots still remain the Tigers’ most recent loss. Ogden has now won 26 consecutive matches, including a state championship, since dropping one to the Scots on April 3, 2024.
Saturday, the Tigers can make history by winning back-to-back titles for the first time in school history.
The scent of a repeat’s never been this strong, Rivas said.
“It’s been our goal the whole year,” Rivas said. “Putting each game away, one by one and giving it our all the whole season.”
The 3A title match is at 11 a.m. Saturday at America First Field in Sandy. It’s a region rematch with No. 6 Morgan; the Tigers have wins of 2-1 (overtime) and 3-0 against the Trojans this season. Part of Ogden’s 26 straight wins include last year’s 1-0 victory over Morgan in the state semifinals.
Connect with sports reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net and X @ctbecker.
