HERRIMAN — No second is too late for Ogden’s girls soccer team, and the defending 3A champs proved that up until the final minute of the 2026 season.
Elle Weston scored a brace in the final match of her prolific high school career, including a game-winner with 55 seconds remaining to help Ogden run it back with a 2-1 win over Manti in the 3A championship finale Saturday at Zions Bank Stadium.
The senior who has committed to Baylor capped 82-goal career in Ogden with her 15th and 16th goals of the season — both in the final 20 minutes — as the Tigers (15-6) overturned a 1-0 second-half deficit to stun the top-seeded Templars.
But even when McKinzee Chidester’s breakaway finish from Madelyn Bridges gave Manti (19-2) a 1-0 lead in the 66th minute, Ogden coach Alexis King didn’t panic.
Easy to do when you have the reigning 3A player of the year in Weston, who headed home Gwenyth Aardema’s cross from the corner past Manti goalkeeper Averie Jo Robbins to equalize around the 75th minute.
You want drama? Ogden will give it to you.
“I won’t believe we lost until there’s less than a minute on the clock. I have seen my girls so many times fight — and fight and fight — until the end,” said King, whose team also came back to beat Morgan on Alonda Ayala’s 74th-minute gamewinner in Thursday’s semifinals. “Today is just another testament.
“I told Elle, we have seven minutes left; we can still win this game. And she went out and finished it. She’s always been a player who steps up whenever we need it, and I’m really proud of her and our whole team, in general.”
Ogden had the bulk of possession in the first half, but struggled to finish in front of goal.
Manti had perhaps the best chance before the break in the 37th minute, but Chidester’s shot was kick-saved in front of goal en route to the scoreless halftime stalemate.
But Chidester put the Templars in front midway through the second half, setting up a frantic finish that ended with Weston bending a screamer inside the far corner at the start of the 80th minute to secure the win.
“Every second counts,” she said. “We’ve won two big games because Alonda scored in the last minute. She’s taught us that every second counts, and we can always score — and I think we really felt that in this game.”
Photographer Josh Wood was there for Salt City Soccer. Check out his photos below, follow him on Instagram, and feel free to leave a tip on Venmo if you feel so inclined.
His photo gallery is a treat. More photos are available to purchase on his website.
