2A boys soccer semifinals: Maeser Prep scores a thrilling 3-2 win over St. Joseph’s
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- Maeser Prep’s Kale Garner battles for the ball during his team’s 3-2 win over St. Joesph’s in the 2A semifinals at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Thursday, May 8, 2025.
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- American Heritage freshman Alex Bay celebrates scoring the first goal in the 2A semifinal match against Grand at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Thursday, May 5, 2025.
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- American Heritage freshman Ryan Bay (right) chases down the ball during the 2A semifinal match against Grand at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Thursday, May 5, 2025.
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- American Heritage senior Luke Stratton traps the ball during the 2A semifinal match against Grand at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Thursday, May 5, 2025.
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- American Heritage freshman Alex Bay scores the first goal in the 2A semifinal match against Grand at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Thursday, May 5, 2025.
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- American Heritage senior Cael Tillman (left) chases down the ball during the 2A semifinal match against Grand at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Thursday, May 5, 2025.
Maeser Prep Academy soccer Coach Dustin Simmons has been preaching it to his players all season long, and his directive couldn’t have paid off at a better juncture than during his team’s 3-2 over St. Joseph’s in the semifinal round of the 2A State Championships on Thursday.
With just over five minutes remaining, Maeser’s Matthew Simmons seized on an errant pass made by the St. Joseph’s goalkeeper, giving his team a 2-1 lead.
“We talk all the time about finishing the play, and that was just the perfect example,” Dustin Simmons, who just happens to be Matthew’s father, said. “The goalie made a mistake, which was unfortunate for him, and Matty was there to just finish the play. So we work on that all season and sometimes it doesn’t show until you get to the semifinals.”
“I just swarmed the keeper, knowing he wasn’t going to be able to pick it up with his hands, and then flustered him as best as I could,” Matthew described. “It worked, and I was able to score that goal.”
The goal also worked as a form of redemption for Matthew, making up for a missed attempt at a wide-open net just 15 minutes prior. While such a miss could have proved debilitating for some, Matthew maintained a strong mentality up until the moment when his shot did securely find the back of the net.
“It was frustrating, sure, but you just got to get past it and go on to the next play,” Matthew explained. “So then I did that, and got that next goal, and it felt awesome.”
Maeser didn’t let up from there, with Jack Stevenson adding what appeared to be an unnecessary goal with just over a minute remaining. But due to a late penalty inside the box, St. Joseph’s was able to cut the lead to 3-2 with just 22 seconds remaining, which made the goal a vital one.
But that’s exactly the type of thing Stevenson has done all season long as the Lion’s leading goal scorer, among other virtues.
“He’s our senior captain and he’s scored some big goals for us all season,” Dustin Simmons said. “That one didn’t seem like a big one at the time, but it proved to be the game winner.”
Starting things off for the Lions was sophomore Tyler Reedy, who was the beneficiary of a great assist from freshman winger Denzel Sono-Koree to kick through a goal for an early 1-0 lead in the 17th minute of the first half. On the play Sono-Koree made a successful penetration down the sidelines to find Reedy wide open just in front of the early score.
“He’s just a freshman, and he’s extremely fast,” Dustin Simmons said of Sono-Koree. “On big fields he’s extremely dangerous. He’s young and the rest of our other wings are young, too, so we have some exciting years ahead of us, hopefully.”
Indeed Maeser kept the pressure on throughout the first half, and probably should have been afforded more than just a single goal as they went into the break with just a 1-0 lead.
St. Joseph’s had its share of opportunity, too, and made some great runs at goals throughout the match. Finally, with just under 26 remaining in the second half, Alex Hernandez found the back of the net for the Jayhawks to tie things at 1-1. Indeed the Jayhawks battled hard throughout, which came as no surprise to Maeser, which has battled the Ogden private school for some time, often coming out on the wrong end.
“This is only the second time in school history that we’ve been able to beat them,” Dustin Simmons said. “So we’re really excited to be at the level of their program because they’re a great program.”
As is usually the case, the Lions were afforded some great support from a fanbase beyond just current students at the school.
“We had alumni here, and then parents of alumni, and that support is just so awesome to have,” Simmons said. “They support us and then we try and support everything everyone does at the school and we were happy to do that today with the win.”
The Maeser Prep fans were loud throughout, encouraging their team with some clever chants which was readily noted by everyone involved.
“We always get great support and to have them here today helped us a lot,” Matthew Simmons added.
Also helping out a lot was Matthew Simmons’ go-ahead goal, a moment both him and his father won’t soon forget.
“It’s awesome,” Dustin Simmons said. “He made a big play in a big game, so I’m just so proud of him, as a dad and as a coach.”
“It’s the type of goal you always dream of making when you’re growing up,” Matthews Simmons added.
American Heritage scores a 4-0 win over Grand
Maeser will take on American Heritage in the state championship on Saturday by virtue of the Patriot’s 4-0 win over Grand on Thursday.
The Patriots did most of their work in the first half, with Alex Bay and John Brockbank scoring goals in the eighth and 23rd minutes, respectively. Senior striker Cael Tillman added another goal with just over five minutes remaining in regulation.
Topping things off for the Patriots was Tanner Brockbank, finding the back of the net after an effective cross from Tillman just a minute after Tillman’s own goal for a 4-0 lead, which proved to be the final.
American Heritage and Maeser Prep have played previously this season, with the Lions taking a 4-2 win back in late March.
