3A Semifinals
No. 4 Grantsville vs. No. 1 Ogden
No. 1 seed Ogden and No. 4 Grantsville face off Thursday at 2 p.m. at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman with a spot in the 3A championship match at stake.
The Tigers (15-2-0) have dominated the Cowboys in their previous meetings this season, winning 9-3 on Sept. 9 and following with a more decisive 5-0 shutout on Sept. 25. Both teams won their quarterfinal matchups convincingly, with Ogden routing Morgan 8-1 and Grantsville edging Canyon View 2-1 in extra time.
Ogden’s attack has been led by Elle Weston, who has scored a remarkable 38 goals this season to lead all 3A scorers. The Tigers’ offense has been the most productive in 3A with 83 goals, while their defense has allowed just 15 goals all season with six shutouts.
Grantsville (12-6-0) counters with their own prolific scorer in Kamry Allen, who has tallied 29 goals and 14 assists. Senior Lindsey Wangsgard provides additional firepower with 18 goals and 14 assists for a Cowboys attack that has netted 60 goals this season.
The Tigers are seeking a return to the championship match for the second consecutive season after finishing as 3A runners-up last year. Grantsville is hoping to pull off the upset and reach its first final in recent years.
The winner advances to Saturday’s championship match at America First Field against either Carbon or Manti.
No. 3 Manti vs. No. 2 Carbon
When No. 2 Carbon and No. 3 Manti meet Thursday at 4:30 p.m. at Zions Bank Stadium, the Region 13 rivals will renew a competitive series that has seen Carbon claim narrow victories in both regular season matchups.
The Dinos (17-2-0) edged Manti 2-1 on Sept. 9 in Manti and followed with a 3-1 home victory on Sept. 25. These close contests suggest Thursday’s semifinal could be equally tight despite Carbon’s overall dominance this season.
Carbon enters on the strength of a stifling defense that has recorded 10 shutouts, including a 1-0 victory over Logan in the quarterfinals. Goalkeeper Madi Barlow leads a defensive unit that has conceded just 12 goals all season.
Offensively, the Dinos feature one of 3A’s most prolific scorers in Malia Smith, who has tallied an impressive 49 goals while adding six assists. Naomi Smith provides additional firepower with 17 goals, while Blythe Bradford, Bailey Johnson, and Chrissy Jones have each contributed 11 goals to Carbon’s balanced attack.
Manti (13-4-0) advanced to the semifinals with a convincing 3-1 victory over Richfield. The Templars have been led by senior Taylie Mickelsen’s 24 goals and 13 assists, while McKinzee Chidester (14 goals, eight assists) and Madelyn Bridges (12 goals, nine assists) round out a potent attacking trio.
Defensively, Manti goalkeeper Averie Jo Robbins has recorded nine shutouts this season, helping the Templars limit opponents to just 19 goals in 17 matches.
Both teams know each other well from region play, and while Carbon has had the upper hand in the regular season, playoff soccer often produces different results when the stakes are highest.
The winner advances to Saturday’s 3A championship match at America First Field against either Ogden or Grantsville.
2A Semifinals
No. 4 Maeser Prep vs. No. 1 Waterford
When No. 4 Maeser Prep and No. 1 Waterford meet Thursday at 9 a.m. at Zions Bank Stadium, the Lions will be looking to accomplish what no team has done since early August — defeat the seemingly invincible Ravens.
Waterford (16-1-0) has been the most dominant team in 2A this season, outscoring opponents by a staggering 120-11 margin while recording 12 shutouts. Their only setback came in their second match of the season, a 3-0 loss to 6A East on Aug. 14.
Since that early-season defeat, the Ravens have won 15 consecutive matches, including a commanding 10-0 quarterfinal victory over Beaver where Milana Massinople netted six goals.
These teams met just three weeks ago on Oct. 2, with Waterford prevailing 3-1 in a match that stands as one of their closest contests this season. That contest represents the only time in their last seven matches that Waterford has conceded a goal.
Maeser Prep (14-6-0) enters the semifinal after edging Rowland Hall 1-0 in overtime on Tess Jorgensen’s decisive goal. The Lions have been impressive in their own right, recording seven shutouts including their quarterfinal victory.
Waterford’s attack features the lethal duo of Milana Massinople (29 goals, 16 assists) and Berklee Hasebi (26 goals, eight assists), with additional firepower from Whitney Spanos (20 goals, 10 assists) and Lexee Hasebi (13 goals, 11 assists).
The Lions counter with their own scoring threats in Cami Simmons (19 goals, six assists), Caitlyn Herbert (18 goals, five assists), and Tess Jorgensen (13 goals, 15 assists).
Defensively, Waterford has been nearly impenetrable with the goalkeeper tandem of Jessica Miller and Clara Mansfield combining for 12 shutouts. Maeser Prep keeper Huey Jackson has recorded seven clean sheets this season, including the quarterfinal victory.
The winner advances to Saturday’s championship match against either St. Joseph or American Heritage at America First Field.
No. 3 American Heritage vs. No. 2 St. Joseph
When defending 2A state champion American Heritage meets St. Joseph Thursday at 11:30 a.m. at Zions Bank Stadium, the Patriots will be looking to replicate their regular season success against the high-scoring Jayhawks.
American Heritage (12-6-0) handed St. Joseph (12-4-0) one of its rare defeats this season, securing a 2-0 home victory on Sept. 9. The Patriots’ defense successfully contained St. Joseph’s prolific attack in that meeting, while second-half goals from Ada Werner and Olivia Knecht provided the margin of victory.
Both teams have been impressive in their playoff runs, with American Heritage blanking American Leadership 4-0 in the quarterfinals and St. Joseph dispatching Grand 5-1.
The semifinal features two of 2A’s most dynamic offenses. St. Joseph is led by Sofia Evans, who has tallied a remarkable 55 goals and 17 assists this season. Evans continued her scoring prowess in the quarterfinals with a hat trick against Grand. Bond Ari provides additional firepower with 10 goals and 11 assists.
American Heritage counters with a balanced attack led by Isabelle Steele (13 goals, 11 assists), Mikelle Arnson and Jules Gardner (11 goals each), and Olivia Knecht (10 goals, 14 assists).
Defensively, St. Joseph goalkeeper Addison Doebler has recorded 12 shutouts this season. American Heritage has used a committee approach in goal, with Brinley Hall leading the way with 3.5 shutouts.
The teams have faced several common opponents this season, with both defeating American Leadership, Utah Military Hillfield, and APA West Valley. However, both also suffered defeats to top-ranked Waterford.
This marks the second consecutive year these teams have met in the 2A semifinals, with American Heritage prevailing last season en route to their state championship.
The winner advances to Saturday’s championship match against either Waterford or Maeser Prep at America First Field.