Freelance
TC Varsity
ASH FRIEDERICH
sports@tucsoncitizen.com
Salpointe goalkeeper Cat Lena came up with several big saves late in Wednesday’s game to give the Lancers a 1-0 victory over visiting Mesa Mountain View in the opening round of the Class 5A Division I girls soccer state tournament.
Lena’s late-game heroics allowed her team to preserve the early lead Ashley Wright had provided when she scored off a header in the 20th minute.
“(Kelli Ford) was taking the free kick and I was between two players,” said Wright, describing her goal. “I got my head on it before the defender did and redirected it in.”
Ford lined up a direct kick toward the net, hoping to get something going from nearly 35 yards out.
“We had to get it in because that was our biggest opportunity,” Ford said. “I just tried to put (the ball) far post and it made it.”
The goal stood up for No. 8 seed Salpointe, while No. 9 Mountain View had a difficult time getting anything past the Lancers defense.
Regan Clifford was the only Mountain View player to apply much pressure, but her shots were usually covered by Lena, who finished with 11 saves.
“We got the job done and I had solid defense,” Lena said. “I expected a few outside shots and I was holding back on my line.”
Clifford gave Mountain View its best opportunity in the 60th minute when she was able to slip by the defense and put some pressure on Lena.
As Lena tried to cover the ball, Clifford was able to get a shot by the Salpointe goalkeeper, but it sailed out of bounds.
“They did have a lot of great shots on goal,” Salpointe coach Dave Peron said. “They were so far out, though, that it gave Cat time to see (the ball) coming. The balls were on frame and they where hit well.
“Our defensive line held their line, so they created space between Cat and that line.”
Salpointe advances to the 5A-I quarterfinals at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Phoenix Paradise Valley High School. The Lancers play No. 1 Tempe Corona del Sol, a 4-1 winner Wednesday over Sierra Vista Buena.
No. 4 Phoenix Desert Vista 2, No. 13 Tucson High 1: At Desert Vista, Tucson High’s rally came up short and the Badgers finish the season at 10-10-1.
No. 1 Tempe Corona del Sol 4, No. 16 Sierra Vista Buena 1: At Corona del Sol, Buena’s season comes to an end after a 7-11 record.
Class 5A Division II
Visiting Mesa Desert Ridge, the No. 13 seed, upset No. 4 Ironwood Ridge 3-2 in double overtime.
Ironwood Ridge’s Sarah McIntosh tied the game 1-1 in the 73rd minute and Camie Barbara gave Ironwood Ridge the lead in the 86th minute, but Desert Ridge scored late with goals in the 92nd and 94th minutes for the win.
The Nighthawks finished the season with an 18-5 record and a 5A-II Southern Region championship.
Staff writers Raymond Suarez and Geoff Grammer contributed to this article.
4A/5A Quarterfinals
Friday
Girls soccer
> 4A-I: No. 5 Cienega vs. TBD (Tucson High, 3:30 p.m.); No. 3 Sahuaro vs. No. 6 Goodyear Millennium (Tucson High, 7:30 p.m.)
Saturday
Boys soccer
> 5A-I: No. 3 Rincon/University vs. No. 11 Peoria Centennial (Phoenix Paradise Valley, 6 p.m.)
> 5A-II: No. 3 Rincon/University vs. No. 11 Peoria Centennial (Cienega HS, 11 a.m.)
> 4A-I: No. 2 Canyon del Oro vs. No. 7 Prescott (Tucson High, 10:30 a.m.); No. 3 Sabino vs. No. 11 Avondale Agua Fria (Tucson High, 6:30 p.m.)
> 4A-II: No. 2 Douglas vs. No. 10 Flagstaff (Tempe Benedict Sports Complex, 4 p.m.)
Girls soccer
> 5A-I: No. 8 Salpointe vs. No. 1 Tempe Corona del Sol (Phoenix Paradise Valley HS, 12:30 p.m.)
> 4A-I: No. 9 Flowing Wells vs. No. 1 Catalina Foothills (Tucson High, 12:30 p.m.)
> 4A-II: No. 9 Palo Verde vs. No. 1 Cottonwood Mingus (Tempe Benedict Sports Complex, 4 p.m.)