Trojans return 11 seniors, win both games opening weekend

For the Morgan boys soccer team, last year was a magic carpet ride all the way to the 3A state championship game. It ended in heartbreak last May when Juan Diego scored a first-half goal to hand Morgan a 0-1 loss. 

This year, 11 seniors return for a Trojans squad that is loaded with talent. That much was evident on the opening weekend of the new season when Morgan went unbeaten on a road trip to Southern Utah this past weekend. 

Senior Jett Beckstrom nearly broke a school record last year with 13 goals scored as a junior. He’s almost certain to break that mark at the rate he’s going after a two-goal performance in the Trojans’ 2-0 OT win over Stansbury, Saturday March 9 and another goal the day before in a 3-1 win at Pine View. 

Beau Johnson should also shine for Morgan [2-0]; the senior assisted on two of the Trojans’ five goals on opening weekend. [Johnson scored six goals last season.] Considering the senior absolutely obliterated the school record books for extra points in football this past fall, the fact that Johnson’s other sport is soccer could have opponents seeing double. 

In the Trojans midfield, senior Nathan Haws is back along with senior Brandon Allgaier. Both midfielders will look to improve on the goals and assists they totaled last year as juniors. Allgaier scored once for Morgan in the season-opening victory at Pine View as did sophomore Trace Henderson. Add to that trio senior Andres Barney and it’s a dangerous middle third.   

Morgan’s back line helped the Trojans reach their first 3A championship game since that 2020-21 season and it is similarly loaded with talent. 

Seniors Garrett Grow, Bryker Jensen, Nate Wallace, Braxton Greenwald, and Noah Kinney comprise a tall, fearless backline that coughed up just two goals throughout the 3A state tournament.  It’s the kind of lineup you can plug and play any one of these five upperclassmen into. 

Between the goal posts will probably be the only position in the starting 11 that will have a few questions as to who the starter will be going forward. 

Juniors Nathan Howe and Ronan Ratchford and freshman William Bigham are currently listed as goalkeepers on Morgan’s roster. 

Of course, injuries and academic issues could put a stop to any and all of the Trojans’ plans in 2024. If this opening weekend is any indication about Morgan’s potential though, the future is looking bright. λ