For the majority of Thursday’s Region 6 opener, Brighton had an answer for everything Olympus’ attack threw its way — especially the unusually high number of hopeful through balls in behind.
Sometimes, when all else fails, you’ve just got to test the keeper from distance and hope to get a bit lucky.
It was the perfect recipe for the Titans. They forced overtime with a long-range effort in the final minutes of regulation, and then won with an even deeper free kick in double overtime to steal the tense 2-1 rivalry win on their home field under the lights.
“Super excited. Brighton’s our rivalry team, and so I feel like coming into the game, that energy was way higher than any game we’ve played this season,” said Olympus senior Emma Peterson.
Annika Speery tied the game in the 77th minute on a shot from about 25 yards out that dipped just under the crossbar. Midway through the second overtime, Peterson won it as she hammered a driven free kick from over 40 yards out that deflected in off the keeper’s hands.
Peterson, who’s committed to Michigan, has scored on a set piece in all three wins for the No. 1 team in 5A.
Brighton’s Madeline Nate and Olympus’ Mila Guymonon chase the ball as they play Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026. Olympus won 2-1. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Olympus and Brighton girls play soccer on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026. Olympus won 2-1. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Olympus’ Kayla Bradley and Brighton’s Kailee Deeds collide after heading the ball as they play on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026. Olympus won 2-1. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Brighton’s Samantha Wood and Olympus’ Emma Peterson battle for the ball as they play on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026. Olympus won 2-1. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Olympus players celebrate as they beat Brighton in girls soccer on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026. Olympus won 2-1. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News“I’ve practiced that a lot, and so it’s just routine for me now, just hitting those balls. I feel like I’ve hit those this season, so that confidence kind of rose in me, and I feel like I needed to step up as a leader for our team,” said Peterson.
“This whole week in practice we’ve been working on far away shots because we knew that that’s where our best chances were.”
With its fifth straight win over Brighton, Olympus improved to 5-1 on the season while handing the Bengals their first loss of the campaign.
Olympus has eliminated Brighton from the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, and the two teams were ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in 5A heading into Thursday’s showdown. It had the vibes of a playoff game despite the challenges of playing in the heat.
“Proud of the girls’ effort, on both sides,” said Titans coach Jamie Evans. “Everyone’s cramping, everyone’s giving it their all. There’s something about these girls willing to battle on both sides, it’s just incredible to watch, and I love being a part of these moments like this, so kudos to both sides for coming out and and just giving it, leaving it on the field.”
Brighton struck first in the 20th minute as Addison Despain latched onto the end of a cross near the far post, tapping it into the open net for the 1-0 lead.
It was a dream start for a Bengals team that was shut out in all three meetings with Olympus a year ago, and with five shutouts in five preseason matches coming into the region opener, Brighton was feeling great up a goal.
As the game wore on, Olympus started to get desperate with its attacking choices against that stout Brighton defense.
“I feel like Brighton’s midfield was really good today,” Peterson said. “They were pressing us hard and winning all the 50-50 balls we were playing in there, so I feel like we just started going direct, trying to get past that midfield and break lines.”
Added Evans, “I’d like to possess and move the ball, move it together, and then in the final third find those moments, but today it felt like we weren’t finding that, and so we did say, ‘You look for that through ball.’”
Brighton’s speedy backline was up to the change on every one of those through balls.
Evans acknowledge that playing through the midfield is very much still a work in progress just four games into the season, but she’s proud that her team found a way to grind out a win regardless thanks to a few magical moments from distance.
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