Everybody talks: Expectations high for Nuci and Ben Lomond boys soccer
Scots strike twice for win at Roy in season opener Tuesday
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- Roy High’s Asher Hunt, left, helps Ben Lomond’s Kevin Nuci, right, off the turf during a nonregion boys soccer contest on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at Roy High School in Roy.
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- Roy High’s Tryston Ares fires against Ben Lomond’s goal during a nonregion boys soccer contest on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at Roy High School in Roy.
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- Roy High’s Henry Curtis, left, and Ben Lomond’s Kevin Nuci, right, track a high-flying ball during a nonregion boys soccer contest on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at Roy High School in Roy.
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- Ben Lomond’s Eric Solis goes up for a high-flying ball during a nonregion boys soccer contest on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at Roy High School in Roy.
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- Ben Lomond’s Kevin Nuci, middle, fires toward Roy’s goal during a nonregion boys soccer contest on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at Roy High School in Roy.
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- Ben Lomond’s Anthony Garibay rolls the ball out to his corresponding defender during a nonregion boys soccer contest on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at Roy High School in Roy.
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- Ben Lomond coach Paul Baltazar walks back toward the team’s bench during a nonregion boys soccer contest on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at Roy High School in Roy.
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- Roy High’s Jaxon Hunt leans over after letting a Ben Lomond goal slip by during a nonregion boys soccer contest on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at Roy High School in Roy.
ROY — When the chatter stops, that’s when Ben Lomond coach Paul Baltazar has a problem.
Constant communication is, and always has been, a core tenet for the Ben Lomond boys soccer program, and it’s one pillar Baltazar isn’t willing to part with in any context.
Those voices will ultimately piece together whatever the season becomes for the Scots, who opened the season with a 2-1 road win over Roy High on Tuesday with goals by Kevin Nuci and Adriel Vazquez.
Everybody talks, and Baltazar has certainly made it a priority.
“It’s only a bad thing when we stop communicating,” Baltazar said. “I know sometimes there’s some things that can probably be heard all the way from the sideline, but something I am afraid of is when we don’t communicate. The second communication does stop is where I get really frustrated, because I don’t think there’s a line for that.”
Nuci, a Standard-Examiner All-Area forward as a junior, put the Scots on the board shortly before halftime on corresponding penalty kicks that saw BL strike first following a save by Scots’ keeper Anthony Garibay.
Six minutes into the second half, Scots junior Adriel Vasquez placed a second shot beyond the reach of Roy sophomore keeper Jaxon Hart.
The Scots return plenty of power up top in place of graduate captains Amir Odeh and Kai Yanigibashi. Nuci alone produced 16 goals during last year’s deep run, and midfielder George Solis is back for his senior season after having his junior year cut short due to an ACL injury.
One game at a time, Ben Lomond (1-0) can keep its eye on the ceiling, Nuci said.
“I have a lot of expectations and hopefully we reach those goals,” Nuci said. “We’ve got a lot of talent for us to develop, but we can get there. … We basically grew up playing together, we know each other.”
Roy (0-1), on the other hand, would find the net just once on Tuesday.
Royals senior Corbin Socwell answered roughly two minutes later on the other end against BL sophomore keeper Ruben Mendoza. It’d be the only answer Roy provided in their home opener; the Scots sailed to their first regular-season win over their county neighbors.
Ben Lomond had a three-way competition between Garibay, Mendoza and senior Jaime Rodriguez for starting keeper. Garibay got the call on Tuesday after standing behind graduate Oscar Castro Moreno during last year’s state run.
“Today, we took the risk with Anthony and the risk paid off,” Baltazar said. “He’s been doing amazing (and) an excellent kid all around. He’s been growing, so that’s one thing that’s been awesome to see working at BL before the season started. And now, seeing him out here, it just gives the reason for the other keepers to up their level.”
Francisco Rivas and Ogden High bumped the Scots out of last spring’s state semifinals, BL’s first since 2010, in overtime with the match’s golden goal. The eventual 3A champion Tigers finished that run a perfect 18-0 after upending their crosstown rivals in Herriman.
But that’s another team’s story, after all. Opening the season with a win Tuesday, the Scots are looking ahead, not behind.
“I think everybody does have something in mind,” Baltazar said. “That something is not only getting to the state championship, but winning a state championship. However, there are a lot of smaller goals in between and that started today, but every single game needs to be looked at as something important that we improve on.”
Ben Lomond opens its home schedule against Weber High at 4 p.m. Thursday.
WEBER 4, MORGAN 2
PLEASANT VIEW — Weber netted three goals in the second half in a season-opening win over Morgan.
Tate Johnstun tallied one goal and two assists for Weber (1-0). Trey Jones had one goal and one assist. Masen Keyes and Teagan Erickson each netted once while Jaden Millar assisted one score.
Morgan (0-1) did not report stats.
OGDEN 7, BEAR RIVER 0
OGDEN — Jace Rodriguez tallied a hat trick and one assist to start the 2026 campaign for two-time defending state champion Ogden.
Harry Hoskins scored twice for Ogden (1-0). Xavier Peregrina had the shutout in goal. Zeke Snow and Eli Robinson each added one goal. Grant Aardema totaled two assists.
Bear River (0-1) did not report stats.
UMA-HILL FIELD 9, UMA-CW 5
LEHI — Utah Military Academy-Hill Field (Riverdale) overcame a halftime deficit with six second-half goals to win at Utah Military-Camp Williams.
Ian Patiño netted a hat trick and added two assists for UMA-Hill Field (1-0). Alfonso Romo and William Reinier each scored two goals. Graysen Heiner and Pedro Flores added one goal apiece.
SCORES, NO STATS REPORTED
West Field 5, Logan 2
Farmington 2, Northridge 0
BASEBALL
ROY 2, MORGAN 0
ROY — Parker Skidmore pitched a two-hit complete game with 10 strikeouts to lead Roy past Morgan to open the season.
Julian Teran batted 2 for 2 and drove in one for Roy (1-0). Lincoln Baty hit a single and scored a run. Skidmore added a single and Logan Vorwaller had an RBI.
Karson Black and Kolby Kendell each had a hit for Morgan (0-1).
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
SCORES, NO STATS REPORTED
Box Elder 3, Bear River 0: 25-12, 25-9, 25-10
Ogden 3, Fremont 1: 25-18, 25-22, 25-19
Ben Lomond 3, Bonneville 0: 25-21, 25-16, 26-24
Morgan 3, Union 0: 25-0, 25-6, 25-7
Green Canyon 3, Syracuse 0: 25-23, 25-15, 15-13
Wasatch 3, Weber 0: 25-16, 25-23, 25-22
Bountiful 3, Davis 0: 25-14, 25-19, 25-23
Viewmont 3, Clearfield 0: 25-23, 25-16, 25-21
Justin B. Johnson and Brett Hein contributed to score reports.
Connect with prep sports reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net and X @ctbecker.
