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High school soccer: Alta girls knock off Brighton in soccer

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refs? | 7:33 a.m. Sept. 16, 2009

The picture is not what it appears, the ball isn't what is causing the grimace on Ohai's face its the right hand of the Brighton player and as the article says the collision. The ref allowed this kind of play all day long. No wonder so many players are out with injuries this year. Oh and by the way there was no foul called.

brighton parent | 7:54 a.m. Sept. 16, 2009

The refs do need to keep these games so that players don't get hurt. I hate to see ANY player get hurt. It is fun to play a hard game against your rival but we need to keep players safe. Good game Bengals and Alta played a good game too! Let's keep it fun and safe

side line watcher | 8:01 a.m. Sept. 16, 2009

I have to agree, Ohai is a good player, She is defended by many, Still okay, if I was a coach I would do that as well. The problem is they are holding her around the waist, abusing her in all manner of ways and when she decides it is time to get a ball and does what she has to do to get loose of the abuse then the refs calls the foul against her. They seem to be picking on her this year. I think she has done a great job of keeping her cool through it all. Refs- it is your job to keep the game in control. When they are fouling her, that is the time to blow the whistle, you are not being fair to a beautiful, hard playing young women. Pick on someone your own size for a change.

Comments continue below

Proud Mary | 8:14 a.m. Sept. 16, 2009

Ohai should change her name to The Warrior. She is a class act. These refs allowed this type of illegal play and she still can't be stopped.

The joke is on them and Brighton.

Why doesn't the press interview Ohai? Do your job!!!

coach | 8:19 a.m. Sept. 16, 2009

Great win for the Hawks, just think if they had a coach that knew what he was doing and he played the right girls they would have won 10-0.
That was TIC by the way, I still can't believe all the posts on here ragging on Coach Mitchell. I have coached against him for years and the man is top notch both as a coach and a person.

UHSAA/REFS | 8:48 a.m. Sept. 16, 2009

Don't get it, many of these players have already committed to colleges. They are not recruited in high school, most are visited by college coaches while playing in clubs.The safety of the player is far more important than the game. Alta has already lost two D-1 players for the year because the refs refuse to protect anyone. Just the act of a simple yellow card would stop most of the rough play. The Utah High School Activies Association refuses to get this point across to the refs.

plyxply | 8:51 a.m. Sept. 16, 2009

so I have to admit I'm not a soccer person, but when I walk past the Alta soccer field heading to the football stadium it's impossible not to watch Ohai play. The grace and ease she plays with is impressive and I can only imagine some of the plays she makes in games. Good luck Hawks, way to get the week vs. Brighton started off right.

Re: Brighton parent | 9:10 a.m. Sept. 16, 2009

Thanks for the classy post, Brighton has always been a great team with great players. Many parents and players from Alta and Brighton are good friends with many that play on the same club teams. Good luck with the rest of the season.
Alta fan

Too bad | 9:13 a.m. Sept. 16, 2009

This happens in every sport. Good players do not get the calls. I realize it is easier to see the second foul, but when good players are being held or fouled in soccer or any other sport it needs to be called.

Goal keeper/wow | 9:14 a.m. Sept. 16, 2009

Alta's goal keeper the key to another state championship. I think its safe to say Alta has the best keeper in the state.

Re:RE coach | 9:22 a.m. Sept. 16, 2009

my post wasn't ragging on the coach it was ragging on all those silly posts in the past ragging on him.

@ Re;coach 9:00 a.m. | 9:39 a.m. Sept. 16, 2009

I believe you may have read just the first part of the post. The third line indicated the opening remark was "TIC" which I think means "tongue in cheek."

I didn't see any posts ragging on Coach Mitchell with this particular article, but I have seen negative posts made on other articles that question his coaching ability.

I am a Brighton fan, but regardless of what high school one supports and cheers for, records such as Coach Mitchell's (both for the boys' team as well as the girls' team) that boast the consistent success he has enjoyed are not to be scoffed at. It is proof that he runs a consistently quality program.

Has it helped his efforts to have players like the Ohai girls and others on his teams? Yes. Do many of his players receive excellent coaching from club coaches and come with great skills? Yes. But it requires a unique set of skills to bring players from different club teams together and quickly make them gel on a high school team during the short HS season. Coach Mitchell knows how to do that, as do other HS coaches with consistently good programs.

HSsoccerfan | 9:41 a.m. Sept. 16, 2009

A very fine win by the Hawks...and deserved in every way. They played with great determination. While much of the talk is aimed at their offense (Ohai) an important part of their success was their defensive effort. Long played very, very well. The team hustled to support each other, and seemed more cohesive. The Bengals were left to individual heroics (Verdoia)that got lost against the team effort of Alta. The second match will be just as good!

re re coach | 9:41 a.m. Sept. 16, 2009

coach was being sarcastic TIC means tongue in cheek He posted because some Alta parent keeps saying Mitchell doesn't know what he is doing He does

Anonymous | 9:42 a.m. Sept. 16, 2009

Amen to the refs needing to review the rules of the game. Watching BYU girls soccer and U of U there is much less illegal contact going on! I know the college girls are more skilled, and know when to get physical, but all it would take to make the game more interesting at the high school level is for the refs to pull something out from their behinds -i mean a red or yellow card, and the dirty play that is causing so many injuries would cease. I can say right now if my daughter gets hurt because of dirty play, it will get ugly. The UHSAA has got to get their refs together and review the rules of the game!! Ohai is a great player and never dirty, but she gets away with an illegal hooking all the time. Not dirty, not dangerous, just smart physical play. I am talking about the players throwing elbows, taking players out by not playing the ball, and tripping on purpose.

ALTAFAN | 9:55 a.m. Sept. 16, 2009

Way to go lady hawks! Make it four in a row!

plyxply, this is kind of freaky. You're on the soccer articles too. I really think you are taking over my role from last year.

Refs?? | 9:57 a.m. Sept. 16, 2009

All of you complainers about the refereeing of the soccer matches need to stop complaining and do something about it. The UHSAA is in need of officials in all sports. Contact them and get involved. It is easy to sit on the sides and complain; it is much more difficult to get up and contribute. Be part of the solution.

Soccer is a contact sport | 10:03 a.m. Sept. 16, 2009

Soccer is a contact sport. The refs should not call a foul just because there is rough contact.

Anonymous | 10:09 a.m. Sept. 16, 2009

uhsaa-please get your refs to get control of the games. dirty play going uncarded, and fouls going uncalled all lead up to an ugly game, but more importantly MORE INJURIES! I know soccer is not really a 'non-contact' sport, but it is less physical and less dirty at the college level. refs, don't be afraid to pull out a card or call the foul. you guys know the rules so blow the whistle early and you may not have to blow it the rest of the game.

Anonymous | 10:13 a.m. Sept. 16, 2009

uhsaa get your refs to start blowing the whistle before we have more injuries. dirty or overly physical play should not be tolerated.

WHAH! | 10:13 a.m. Sept. 16, 2009

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PLAY BRIGHTON.

IF YOU CAN'T TAKE THE HEAT, GET OUT OF THE KITCHEN!!

RE:RE: coach | 10:18 a.m. Sept. 16, 2009

So leave it in the past, why bring it up here!. Your post had noting to do with the article at all.

Fan | 10:34 a.m. Sept. 16, 2009

I have seen many games and the refs are not taking control of the game and is getting very dangerous out there on the field. This game should be fair physical and fun. I have also see Ohai get away with pulling and tugging on shirts and nothing has been called. It goes both ways. All teams are physical and playing well soccer sometimes the refs just need to warn the players to settle it down. They need to take control.

soccer fan | 11:01 a.m. Sept. 16, 2009

Coach had it right yesterday, for 10 minutes of the game, he had the right lineup out on the field. For those 10 minutes, Alta dominated the game. If Alta is going to win state, they need that lineup back.

HSsoccerfan | 11:02 a.m. Sept. 16, 2009

Anyone who thinks "dirty play" occurs in Utah high school soccer...and by certain teams... should watch the play in California, or Texas, or North Carolina or Illinois high school settings. To name just a few. Watch the physical nature of the game played on the collegiate or region-and-above club level. Utah, culturally, has a very low tolerance for physical soccer play by girls. We want it to be non-contact like basketball or volleyball... but the sport isn't played that way "out in the world."
Now...please don't take that as a defense of Utah's soccer officiating. It isn't.

Proud Maryt | 11:14 a.m. Sept. 16, 2009

RE: Proud Mary | 8:58 a.m. Sept. 16, 2009

Uh!! Because as Ohai goes so goes the team. Did I mention she is the number one recruit in the nation. Generally speaking people want to know her thoughts more than the average player.

You'd probably interview Brianna Scurry instead of Mia Hamm. You see it is human nature to want to know what makes people great.

Without her Alta is just another team.

Why have they won three championships? That's right they had the other Ohai girl. Get it!!

After this year Alta's run ends. Watch and learn!!

RE:Whah | 11:19 a.m. Sept. 16, 2009

The complaints are not about Brighton, its about the refs in general. I wouldn't be talking about heat after getting schooled 2-0.

no clue | 11:22 a.m. Sept. 16, 2009

HEY WHAH. Brighton LOST YOUR DID YOU NOT SEE THAT!!!!!

Referee Complaints | 11:24 a.m. Sept. 16, 2009

Why do we have sub-par referees? Because they are the ones willing to go out and officiate a game. There are far too many parents, fans, etc. that are more than willing to sit on the sideline and gripe and complain, but would NEVER take a whistle and get out there themselves. I have officiated high school sports for 5 years, and I admit, I enjoy officiating, other than dealing with parents and uneducated fans.
You think you can do better, go to the UHSAA website and get the information. All it takes is attending a rules clinic and passing a test.
DO you have what it takes? Step up and prove it!

RE:Soccer is a contact sport | 11:25 a.m. Sept. 16, 2009

No duh!, so is football but there are still rules about what you can and can't do and right now the the refs are doing nothing. There's a big difference in rough play and what's going on in high school soccer. It takes 2 days to get certified as a soccer ref for high school soccer, think about it, its scary.

FORMER NFL PLAYER | 12:11 p.m. Sept. 16, 2009

i was at the game and watch many alta games. it is funny that not one Alta fan/parent has said anything about the alta offensive player who leveled the brighton goalie while she was holding the ball. Poor Alta. there were rough plays on both sides and just like the refs need to call it both way you too need to see it both ways. your argument is watered down when all you complain about is how you were mistreated. the refs were consistant with there calls for both teams. Some refs choose to let physical play go. I did see several calls made on both teams, and some calls missed but both teams palyed hard and tough. Every team has multiple injuries every year in every sport. It is part of the game. One other great point i learned a long time ago. Coaches and refs get way to much credit for their role in Sports. Ultimately it is the players responsibility to perform. If they win the players should get the credit and if they lose they should be blamed. PLAYERS MAKE WAY MORE MISTAKES DURING THE COURSE OF A GAME THAN REFS AND COACHES

Anonymous | 12:21 p.m. Sept. 16, 2009

one thing that all parents of female athletes need to realize is that ACL/knee injuries are extremly common among female athletes and field sports all the more. Weight trainig is the one element of Youth-highschool soccer that goes ignored and studies have shown that a weight training program tailored to soccer and female athletes will drastically reduce the chances of knee related injuries. Although every school has adequate lifting facilities very few soccer programs use them correctly. once these girls get into college they will see that lifting is a crutial aspect of their training. 5-6 days a week offseason 3-4 days inseason is what they can expect. the sooner they start the better better.

RE:Former NFL Player | 12:55 p.m. Sept. 16, 2009

So you played in the NFL and you are now an expert on soccer. Give me a break dude, the ref was so bad and that's coming from the team that won the game. the Brighton goalie was NEVER taken out. Pretty strong words for a big bad NFL player.

RE:FORMER NFL PLAYER | 1:29 p.m. Sept. 16, 2009

Who starts a soccer post with that title, most athletes in the NFL don't even know their own rules let alone what goes on in a soccer game. I would imagine by now you've lost enough brain cells to not know the difference.

UHSSA a waste of money | 1:59 p.m. Sept. 16, 2009

In fact the UHSSA has been contacted more than once, they have been given suggestions on how to make the game safer and how to get better refs. To date they have never responded and they and have never shown any concern. Why would they, when they can sit in their nice new building, eating doughnuts and drinking coffee while collecting more money than most teachers ever will. While tax payers pay their wages they act like they are working so hard in fact doing nothing. If the club programs can find good refs without a tenth of the funding the UHSSA recieves one has to wonder just what do these guys do all day.

alta rules | 2:07 p.m. Sept. 16, 2009

Everyone all over the refs. GO Get Certified. Fouls go both ways but are only seen one sided. If it weren't for these refs there would be no soccer. Were not out here to get people hurt. We see what we see. All you parents need to get a clue. Yeah you watched your kids for years and year but does not make you an expert. I hear you guys from the sideline half of you don't know what offside is.

RE: referee clinics and anonymou | 2:14 p.m. Sept. 16, 2009

first that is scary that all it takes is one measely clinic and a joke of a test to be certified. I spent thousands of dollars and months to become certified to be a coach. These players no more than the referees who are old fat and cant keep up with the play. to anonymous the studies on acl injuries and weight training are still inconclusive. just ask Bountiful high who hired a "specialist" to do acl prevention then had 2 acl tears in one week.

none of you have a clue | 2:20 p.m. Sept. 16, 2009

By reading a lot of your commnets it's clear that most, if not all of you, have never played soccer at a competitive level. Many of you are parents, who "think" they know all about soccer, but you don't. The refs let the girls play a physical soccer match, which is what they will be doing every game when they go on to play at a collegiate level..if good enough. Get over the whole issue you all have with refs and get on with your lives and find something better to do than banter back and forth about high school soccer. Great games to both Alta and Brighton. You both have a lot of talent.

Anonymous | 2:34 p.m. Sept. 16, 2009

Players are at an increased risk for injury when they receive or deliver a tackle or charge and when they are involved in play that is unfair or illegal.
In summary, most of the injuries in women's soccer affected the lower extremities, with ankle ligament sprains and knee internal derangements representing the most common game injuries. Furthermore, concussions continue to be a concern during games. Professionally made mouth guards seem to reduce the number of concussions and oral injuries.
Of all player actions, unfair use of the upper extremity was most commonly associated with injury. The significant upswing in injury rates over the past few years, with the escalating intensity of competition and unfair contact, may reflect the benefits of injury prevention strategies including preventive neuromuscular control exercises and agility tasks during practices. This, along with officials maintaining control of games by making the appropriate calls for fouls, flagrant or not, will help reduce the increase in injuries we are seeing in women’s soccer.

Anonymous | 2:36 p.m. Sept. 16, 2009

just play by the rules of the game. the refs are letting too much go for fear of looking whistle happy. i have ref'd other sports, and if you set the tone early by calling a clean game, you have to listen to less complainers (players, parents or coaches). elbows to the head, charging into a player after the ball has already been passed away and taking that player out, leading with an elbow or other illegal contact BEFORE making contact with the ball on a tackle is a FOUL! Watching a soccer match where the refs call it close, means more soccer and less injuries. Even tripping or other rough and dangerous contact that was done on accident is a foul! too many players are playing out of control and we are seeing too many injuries.

Anonymous | 2:38 p.m. Sept. 16, 2009

my previous post was over 200 words-so here is the 2nd half--Of all player actions, unfair use of the upper extremity was most commonly associated with injury. The significant upswing in injury rates over the past few years, with the escalating intensity of competition and unfair contact, may reflect the benefits of injury prevention strategies including preventive neuromuscular control exercises and agility tasks during practices. This, along with officials maintaining control of games by making the appropriate calls for fouls, flagrant or not, will help reduce the increase in injuries we are seeing in women’s soccer.

Alta = ONE GIRL TEAM | 2:41 p.m. Sept. 16, 2009

will be interesting to see how they compete when their star leaves.

it's like in the Will Ferrel movie about kids soccer.

"Just PASS it to the Italians!"

Re: Goal keeper/wow | 2:47 p.m. Sept. 16, 2009

Nice post Matt.
Where is she going to college?

crazyfan | 3:02 p.m. Sept. 16, 2009

I don't know much about Alta or Brighton, but the comments seem to say that Alta is a one man team. I realize that Ohai is a great player and maybe the number one recruit, but soccer is a team sport not an individual one. The whole team is responsible for the win or loss, lets give the team a break and congratulate all players.

RE:Whah | 3:04 p.m. Sept. 16, 2009

Completely agreed. pretty sure alta was doing just as much IF NOT more fowling than Brighton was. Stop complaining about refs. Soccers a physical game. DEAL WITH IT!
Great match with Alta and Brighton.
Brighton will get em next time! no question.
very close match.

Anonymous | 3:59 p.m. Sept. 16, 2009

just so everyone knows the rules (speaking to UHSAA)A foul is called and a direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits
any of the following offences in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force:
kicks or attempts to kick an opponent
trips or attempts to trip an opponent
jumps at an opponent
charges an opponent
strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
pushes an opponent
tackles an opponent to gain possession of the ball, making contact
with the opponent before touching the ball
holds an opponent
spits at an opponent
handles the ball deliberately

Anonymous | 4:01 p.m. Sept. 16, 2009

An indirect free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player,
in the opinion of the referee:
plays in a dangerous manner
impedes the progress of an opponent
prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands
A player is shown the yellow card if he commits any of
the following offences:
1. is guilty of unsporting behavior
2. shows dissent by word or action
3. persistently infringes the Laws of the Game
4. delays the restart of play
5. fails to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a
corner kick or free kick
6. enters or re-enters the field of play without the referee’s permission
7. deliberately leaves the field of play without the referee’s permission

A player is sent off and shown the red card if he commits any of the
following offences:
1. is guilty of serious foul play
2. is guilty of violent conduct ETC.... yea I used cut and paste...

Anonymous | 4:26 p.m. Sept. 16, 2009

while alta did beat lone peak 2-1 last week, and brighton 2-0 this week, I think the young and upcoming defensive fullbacks at both lone peak and brighton are some of the best in the state. I predict an upset next time around for both of these young teams. I think overall (all sports not just soccer), offensive players get all the glory. ohai is a good player, and deserves her scholarship to North Carolina. But, can the press start praising the great assists, stops, tackles, saves etc...? Remember there is no I in team!

Anonymous | 4:38 p.m. Sept. 16, 2009

alta will be a powerhouse for years to come. They have such a large talent pool to draw from. just losing one offensive star will not make a dent in this program. they will be playing for the state 5a title for years to come. coaching is a little different. there are soccer coaches who get the most of what they are given (examples-Lehi, Lone Peak, Orem, East, Timpanogas). any coach could take the talent pool that alta gets year after year and make a run at the state title.

Alta/Brighton | 4:58 p.m. Sept. 16, 2009

I have to admit Alta's keeper was very good. She saved at least two goals for Alta. She doens't need a parent to blog on and say she's is a great player,she just is and if her parent did I wouldn't blame them. She's the best goal keeper we have faced all year and the only one that has shut us out. Have some class, if you saw the game, no more needs to be said. To stoop so low as to call out her parents, I can't see any Brighton people doing that, I think it came from one of your own.

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Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News

Brighton's Percie Allen, left, and Alta's Kealia Ohai collide as they battle for the ball in a Region 4 soccer game.

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High school soccer: Alta girls knock off Brighton in soccer

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High school soccer: Alta girls knock off Brighton in soccer