Christian Quezada is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Mountain Ridge High School for AZPreps365.com

In a gritty defensive battle between two winless teams, the Mountain Ridge Mountain Lions defeated the Boulder Creek Jaguars, 2-1, at home Wednesday night.

The Mountain Lions scored two goals in less than five minutes right after halftime to take a 2-0 lead. Boulder Creek responded with its only goal in the 32nd minute of the second half. 

Mountain Ridge's two goals came from senior Nathan Erickson and junior Saul Ceja. Erickson's score came in the third minute of the second half when he split two Jaguar defenders and kicked a strike from the left side of the box. Ceja’s goal was assisted by senior Rehan Zafar after a foul near midfield set up a free kick.  Zafar kicked a perfect high pass that set up a headbutt by Ceja to give the Mountain Lions their second goal of the game. 

The Jaguars were scoreless until Junior Jean-Claude Olar(CQ) was fouled inside of the box setting up a penalty kick with just 7 minutes remaining in the second half. Olar made the penalty kick to give the Jaguars their first and only score of the game. The Jaguars would not get another shot on goal for the remainder of regulation leading to the Mountain Lions first win of the season. 

Mountain Ridge coach Andrew Lang was pleased to see his team get its first win of the season after starting 0-5.

“I'm so excited for the boys,” Lang said. “Being able to recognize what they've been working on...they were able to put it together and do it tonight,”. 

The efforts of sophomore goalkeeper Jayden Rogers kept the Mountain Lions in the game after a scoreless first half. Rogers totaled up double-digit saves in his first full game back after being out with an injury the previous three games. 

“Personally it starts with your mentality,” Rogers said. “I haven’t had much keeper training but once I got going it was like riding a bike.” 

Jaguars coach Bob Nader did not seem too disappointed after his team dropped to 0-5.

 “We’ve got a young team so really for the rest of the season it’s about getting them experience on the field,” Nader said. “This is one of those building years that we’re going to see how tough they are and what they’re made of.”

Mountain Ridge will next play at Valley Vista (1-5) at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Boulder Creek (0-5) will host Perry (3-3) at 7 p.m. Thursday.