All-Area Boys Soccer Team of the Year: Young phenoms propel Ogden to 4th state title
2024 Standard-Examiner All-Area Boys Soccer Team of the Year
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- Ogden High’s Adam Jenks (center, 6) celebrates his first-half goal with teammates in a 3A semifinal match against Morgan on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
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- Ogden defender Lincoln Barnes (5) yells while holding up the 3A state championship trophy on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at America First Field in Sandy.
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- Jace Rodriguez, left of Ogden High jumps for a header against Cody Adams of Morgan High during a 3A semifinal match Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
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- Taylor Pierce of Ogden High celebrates after being fouled by Jett Beckstrom of Morgan High, appealing to the referee during a 3A semifinal match Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
Ogden High boys soccer certainly has a penchant for the second half.
Dropping just three matches by the start of April, the eventual 3A state champions entered the postseason having won five consecutive matches, scoring an average of six goals per game during that stretch, before claiming the crown in May.
It was a scoreless first half that served up the urgency the Tigers (15-3) needed to outpace then-unbeaten top seed Manti 4-1 in Ogden’s fourth boys soccer state championship and first since 2005.
A young team with “all the potential in the world,” as Ogden coach Todd Scott describes, refused to bottle up their attack.
Ogden is the 2024 Standard-Examiner All-Area Boys Soccer Team of the Year.
One year ago, Morgan denied then-No. 1 seed Ogden of a seat in the state title match and handed the Tigers their second loss of a near-perfect 13-2 campaign.
This time around, sophomore forward Jace Rodriguez rose to the role of Ogden’s leading scorer (16 goals) and team captain.
“It hasn’t fully settled in,” Rodriguez said. “Maybe it’ll settle in when we get our rings, but we just worked so hard this year, and last year we came up short.”
The Tigers’ prospects for a revenge tour improved with newcomer goalkeeper and sophomore Xavier Peregrina.
Ogden’s Rookie of the Year made quite the impression, tallying 127 saves across nine shutouts. Peregrina currently maintains an 18-1 postseason goal differential and was ranked 69th nationally by MaxPreps when Ogden’s season came to a close.
Peregrina, who competes on the same club team as Rodriguez outside of the prep season, caught Scott’s attention well before they officially suited up at Ogden for the first time.
“Watching them play before they entered my program was helpful for me just to kind of get that feel of trust,” Scott said. “Having (Xavier) in the back, seeing his ability and commanding that translated right into our program.”
Peregrina said his biggest fear entering the season was “making sure (he) showed up.”
“I didn’t want the other guys looking down on me because I’m a sophomore, you know, not good enough,” Peregrina said. “We all formed a really good bond outside of practice … Even outside of high school practice, we’d go practice by ourselves and just work at it there and gain their trust through that.”
The Tigers built up a strong traveling reputation, finishing 7-2 away from home. Rodriguez and Peregrina both agreed that pregame meals ahead of each away match made a considerable difference in breaking down nerves and dialing in on business.
Every minute spent off the pitch is invaluable, Scott said.
“I see these boys every day and having them in my class helps a lot,” Scott said. “We had a strong program before I started coaching here. The foundation’s already rooted and they contend every year in the playoffs, but this is a special team.”
Ogden’s roster signs off three senior starters — Lincoln Barnes (1.0 goals per match), Ben Points (14 goals/1.3 per match) and Taylor Pierce (0.8 goals per match) — as Scott prepares his offseason workout schedule in advance of a high-expectations season next spring.
A recognition ceremony for the team is still TBD.
Connect with prep sports reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net and X @ctbecker.
