HERRIMAN — There have been three guarantees over the past eight years in life as well as in Utah high school soccer: death, taxes, and Ogden High girls soccer playing for a championship.
The Tigers did it again Thursday.
Alonda Ayala scored the match-winner in the 74th minute as Ogden fended off Morgan, 2-1 in a 3A girls soccer state semifinal at Zions Bank Stadium to advance to the championship match for the eighth straight season.
The Tigers (14-6) have made a final every year since winning the 4A title in 2019, a run that includes four championships including last year’s 5-1 win over Manti.
Ogden opened the scoring early, when Gwenith Aardema took a pass from Bryleigh Thomas en route to the Tigers’ 1-0 halftime lead.
But Monea Whimpey equalized int he 44th minute for Morgan, prompting a #TarpsOff celebration from the Trojan faithful on the front row of the stormy Zions Bank Stadium.
Ayala put Ogden back in front in the 75th minute, whipping in a shot from the edge of the penalty area that nicked over the goal line to send the Tigers back to the title round Saturday at 11 a.m. MT at Zions Bank Stadium.
Manti 4, Richfield 0
The top-seeded Templars kept up their end of the rematch, running through Richfield en route to a 4-0 win in the early semifinal.
Madelyn Bridges scored two goals and added an assist for Manti (19-1), which got a goal and an assist from McKinzee Chidester.
Ella Thompson added a goal, and Haddie Rasmussen provided an assist as Averie Jo Robbins extended the Templars’ winning streak against Richfield (16-5) to 14 games.
2A semifinals: First-half burst leads Waterford past American Heritage, into final against Maeser Prep
Lexee Hasebi scored two goals and provided as an assist as Waterford scored four first-half goals in a little over four minutes to cruise by American Heritage, 6-0 in a rain-soaked semifinal.
Evan Mackey also scored twice for the Ravens (14-5), who got goals from Savvy Williams and Farrah Lu and added an assist from Hasebi’s younger sister Berklee to advance to the 2A state final for the third straight year.
It will be a rematch of the regular-season match that Maeser Prep won 1-0 in extra time back on Sept. 29.
Maeser Prep 5, American Leadership 0
Ellery Garner and Cami Simmons scored two goals apiece as the Lions roared past the Eagles to earn a spot in the championship game for the first time since 2015.
Norah Johnson also scored for top-seeded Maeser (18-2), which got assists from Tess Jorgensen and Ruby Dunn in the win.
The Lions and Ravens will face each other in Saturday’s 2A championship at 2 p.m. MT at Zions Bank Stadium.
