The Hive Sports

by James Tate

Head Coach: Heather Carter

2025 Record: Overall (10-9) Region (4-4)

The Weber Warriors enter the 2026 season with something every contender needs: senior leadership, a clear memory of how close they were to breaking through last fall, and a hunger sharpened by unfinished business. After finishing third in Region 1 and suffering a disappointing second‑round playoff exit to Corner Canyon, Weber steps into the new year with a clean slate and a veteran core determined to push the program forward.

Head Coach Heather Carter begins year three and believes in a tough pre-region schedule to get her team prepared for tough region action. The Warriors will face stellar programs, American Fork, Corner Canyon, Ogden, Clearfield, Spanish Fork, and Mountain Ridge to start the 2026 season.

Carly Gardenhour

Veteran Leadership Anchors Weber’s Identity

Weber returns four seniors who have endured the grind of Region 1 battles and postseason pressure: Carly Gardenhour, Zoee Kallias, Ivee Berdinner, and Teagan Braegger. Together, they form the backbone of Weber’s identity, steady, competitive, and experienced.

One of the standout moments of Weber’s 2025 campaign, and one of the most memorable matches in recent Region 1 history, came in a dramatic overtime shootout victory over Syracuse, the team that eventually went on to win the state championship. It was the kind of game that reveals a program’s character: gritty defending, fearless goalkeeping, and a willingness to go toe‑to‑toe with the best. For Weber, that win wasn’t just a highlight; it was proof of what this group is capable of when everything clicks.

It was a defining game for Gardenhour, in which she scored a goal in regulation and nailed the decisive penalty kick for the win. Kallias’ versatility, Berdinner’s defensive instincts, and Braegger’s leadership create a senior group capable of anchoring both the locker room and the field.

Last year’s Warriors opened the season 6–1, a stretch that showcased their potential when healthy, connected, and confident. That early surge wasn’t a fluke. Weber played with pace, defended with discipline, and demonstrated the ability to control matches against quality opponents.

The challenge in 2026 will be sustaining that level from August through October, but with a seasoned senior core and a deeper bench expected to contribute, Weber believes it can. Look for seniors Paisley Mock, Sophie Thompson, and junior Hadley White to have a major impact this season for the Warriors.

The Weber Warriors enter 2026 with a memory that refuses to fade: the sting of last year’s second‑round playoff exit to Corner Canyon at home. The Warriors step into 2026 determined to prove that last year’s stumble was not the end of their story, but the spark for a stronger finish.

Zoee Kallias

Weber’s motivation is sharpened further by the reality of roster turnover. The Warriors must replace the impact of Sadie Fletcher (Pacific), Izzy Ririe (First Team All-Region), Kallie Wallace (Utah State University- Eastern), and Alyssa Boydston (Salt Lake Community College), all of whom played key roles in last year’s campaign.

Wallace’s departure in goal is especially significant, but senior Parker Burnell appears poised to step into the starting goalkeeper role. Her emergence offers Weber both stability and leadership at a position that demands confidence under pressure.

Region 1 is always unforgiving, but Weber has the pieces to contend. Their path forward hinges on establishing early chemistry between veterans and emerging underclassmen, finding consistent scoring to complement their defensive stability, staying healthy through the demanding mid‑season stretch, and converting close games into wins, the kind of resilience they showed in last year’s thriller against Syracuse. If Weber checks those boxes, they’ll be firmly in the mix for a top‑two finish and a deeper playoff run.

photos courtesy of James Tate