Emily Carman is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Casteel High School for AZPreps365.com

The Casteel girls soccer team expanded its season record to 7-0 after defeating Gilbert, 6-0, on Monday night. 

“It’s huge to be 7-0, especially with COVID, since you have to play seven games to even qualify for the playoffs,” Coach Jason Hammonds said. “So, we know we’ve qualified. Now, the rest is just doing the day-to-day work to march our way through the playoffs.”

Four of the Colts' six goals came from seniors on Senior Night.

The match was scoreless through 25 minutes, thanks to great defensive stops by Gilbert defenders Cierra Kochheiser, Brooke Hastings and goalkeeper Brynna Greer. 

After entering the game, Casteel’s Nathalie Lewis broke the tie, scoring on her very first touch of the game. The goal was Nathalie’s ninth of the season. 

Senior captain Lily Steenhard scored soon after, her first goal of the year, and Nathalie’s sister, Morgan Lewis, added another with two minutes left until half. 

“Being able to score on Senior Night, with all my team around me, it felt so great,” said Morgan, another senior captain.

Nathalie was excited to see her sister score her second goal of the season.

“I was thinking ‘Yes! She scored on Senior Night!’ It was just amazing,” Nathalie said. 

Nathalie, a sophomore, said it was an amazing moment because she would miss playing with her big sister after graduation, a sentiment that brought tears to Morgan’s eyes. 

Up 3-0 at half, the Colts utilized several players off the bench, but kept the seniors on for the majority of the game. Doing so allowed two more senior goals from Scarlett Frohardt and Renee Sainz in the second half. 

Many of Casteel's seniors have been playing together for six years, through junior high and high school. 

“We’ve got a special group of girls here since our seniors are the first class to graduate seven through 12,” Steenhard said. “We’ve just been waiting for this moment, for us to be seniors and to be able to lead our team. This season is a testament to all the work we’ve put in, to all the perseverance.” 

Casteel began the game with all 11 seniors on the field and ended the game with the same. Two field players, Kyra Burton and Jenna Custer, even got minutes in the goal in order to be on the field with their classmates. 

Though the seniors had the most success Monday night, Hammonds said the season's accomplishments belong to the whole team. 

“Everyone from top to bottom, from the first time on the field freshman to the graduating senior is an absolute key piece to the program,” he said. 

The match against Gilbert was Casteel's final regional game of the season. Their win Monday night secured them the 5A San Tan regional title for the second year in a row.

Next up, the Tigers face Horizon at home on Tuesday, Feb. 16. Meanwhile, the Colts will play Verrado (3-0-1) on the road on Thursday. 

In their last matchup, Casteel and Verrado tied in a physical match that ended scoreless after double overtime. The Colts are expecting a similar battle this year. 

“They are a team full of competitors, like us as well, so it’s going to be a good battle,” Steenhard said. “We just need to go in there and play our game and if we just stay focused on that, it’s going to be a great game.”