2012 Fall Soccer preview
by Andy Morales on Aug. 25, 2012, under Sports
Sara Boice . Andy Morales Photo.
Often overlooked, Division IV schools play soccer in the fall. The Southern Arizona teams (Section II) for the boys are Academy of Tucson, Benson, Desert Christian, Immaculate Heart, San Miguel, St. Augustine, St. Gregory and Willcox.
The Desert Christian girls are the only Southern Arizona team and they compete in Section III along with Alta Vista, Blue Ridge, Payson and Show Low.
Due to logistics, quite a few girls play on the boys teams and they are sometimes referred to as “co-ed.”
The Desert Christian girls are coached by Mark Harting. The team has only been competing for six years but they have been to four straight semifinals. Harting has an incredible 44-2 record in his region/section.
Desert Christian lost seven starts to graduation but they return Sara Boice, Nicole Ayers, Jenna Cray and Lexi Rorrer. Boice was our Player of the Year last season with 25 goals and 16 assists.
WATCH LIST
Sara Boice – senior striker
Nicole Ayers – senior sweeper
Jenna Cray – junior midfield
Lexi Rorrer – junior goalie
Juliet Saxton – junior striker
Sarah Butler – freshman midfield
Hannah Bjorgum – freshman defender
Stephanie Smith – freshman defender
YunJin Drysdale – freshman defender
The Desert Christian boys have been to the semifinals the last three years with a championship game appearance in 2010. (2001 and 2004)
St. Gregory, Willcox (2008 runner-up) and Benson have also seen some success with Benson winning it all in 2006 when they beat St. Gregory 4-1. St. Gregory also finished in second place in 2007.
Desert Christian’s keeper Gabe Fennema was our 2011 Player of the Year.
WATCH LIST
Gabe Fennema, Desert Christian
Ben Brandon, Desert Christian
Ryan Barents, Desert Christian
Allen Bradley, Desert Christian
Francisco Valdez, Willcox
Osvaldo Lopez, Willcox
Ivan Hernandez. Willcox
Chimo Aguero, Willcox
Jesus Carrasco, Willcox
Abelardo Miranda, San Miguel
Andrew Guilliams, Benson
Alejandro Olmedo, St. Augustine
