Damon Fairall is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Chaparral High School for AZPreps365

SCOTTSDALE -- For the second year in a row, Xavier Prep and Chaparral met in the state playoffs and for the second year in a row, Xavier Prep emerged victorious. 

The No. 9 Gators defeated the No. 1 Firebirds, 1-0 on Wednesday in a very tight affair, ending Chaparral’s season. 

It was a rematch of last year’s 6A State Championship, in which Xavier Prep won by a score of 2-0, ending Chaparral’s streak of four straight state championships. 

Much like any season-ending loss, coaches, parents, and players alike were overcome with emotion. However, the primary emotion from the Chaparral sideline was not of sadness, but of outrage.

“I never once, ever have said anything about a ref dictating the game,” said Chaparral coach Robyn Carlson, who founded the Chaparral girls soccer program in 1995. “These were two good teams, but he (the referee) dictated that game. And I’ve never seen anything like it before in my life. And my girls are awesome. They deserve to be number one and I don’t think they were treated fairly. Xavier is a good team, but that was unbelievable.”

The game included two complete time stoppages by the head official. 

The first, to give Carlson a yellow card for her response to a foul that awarded Xavier Prep a free kick that would end up as the winning goal. And the second, to issue a warning to the Chaparral parents and student section for a chant directed at an on-field call. 

Practically every blown whistle was met with bewilderment from the Firebird fans.

Immediately after the game concluded, the referee was escorted to the parking lot due to the contention surrounding the situation. 

“I wish it was just about the soccer game, instead of about fans, or about the ref,” Carlson said. “It should be what’s on the field.”

Xavier Prep did not reciprocate Chaparral’s same feelings about the officiating. 

“It’s the official's job to do his job,” said Xavier Prep coach Barbara Chura. “Honestly, some of the things I don’t even know what was going on because I was really locked into the team and when that was happening I was pulling kids aside, talking to people individually. So I didn’t really pay attention to it.”

As much disappointment as there was from the Firebirds and their fans, Carlson knows that the program is going to have to move on. 

“I’m super proud of the way the girls grew this season and we’ll just get back at it again next year,” Carlson said. 

The lone goal of the game came in the 27th minute when Xavier Prep’s junior midfielder Bella Leonard shot a direct free kick from a few yards outside the box, leaving the opposing goalkeeper frozen. 

“I just knew it was probably one of the only opportunities we were going to get against a really good team like Chaparral,” Leonard said. “I knew I had to execute. So I just had to focus and not freak out and do the best I could.”

Chura knows that in tight playoff games, a set piece goal is often the deciding factor. 

“I’ve done this a long time,” Chura said. “In this tournament anybody can win. All of these teams that were left, we’re all good. A lot of games at this level come down to set piece goals.” Similarily, Chaparral's main scoring chances came from forward Mikaela Carlson's signature monster throw-ins. On a handful of occasions, Carlson threw the ball all the way from the touchline into the opponents box, but no one was able to place it into the back of the net. 

This was in large part due to good team defending by Xavier Prep. Chura believes her defense gave the Gators the platform necessary to win. Their main focus was on Chaparral’s star forward and leading goal scorer, Sami Fisher. 

“Sami Fisher is a phenom,” Chura said. “The kid is incredible. I have so much respect for that kid because she is so good. She commands a lot of attention and if you don’t give it to her, she will score. So we had a game plan for her and we executed it.” 

While Xavier Prep’s defensive game plan was geared towards stopping Fisher, Chura also sees stark differences in the way both teams approached their offensive game plans. 

“We try to play soccer,” Chura said. “We don’t just kick it. They kick a lot. In a way I get why they do that: Sami Fisher. They want to get her the ball, so they rely on her a lot and I would, too. But I think we did more build-up play to get opportunities.”

For Carlson, it just comes down to finishing and being clinical in front of goal. 

“We had our chances,” Carlson said. “But we just couldn’t put it in the back of the net.”

Next up, Xavier Prep will continue to defend its 2020-21 state championship by taking on No. 4 Liberty in the 6A state semifinals on Saturday.