A pair of second-half goals - one early and the other late - allowed Desert Vista blank Chandler and claim its fifth boys soccer title on Thursday evening at Campo Verde High School.

Micah Vasey and Kaya Yildirim each scored, powering the second-seeded Thunder past the 13th-seeded Wolves. 

Desert Vista coach Trent Elliott, who coached the last Thunder title team in 2018, was able to feel the full impact of this second one.

"I was new (2018)," Elliott said. "The seniors on this year's team were in eighth grade in 2018. Winning with this group, I got to enjoy it with kids who have come along with me."

Desert Vista (20-1-4) posted three shutouts (Dobson and Pinnacle the other two) in its run through the tournament bracket. They also won a high-scoring affair with Hamilton (4-3) in the semis. The Thunder displayed ample offense in the tournament, scoring 12 goals (3 each in the first two victories).

Chandler (14-7-1) relies heavily on its defense. In the Wolves three other tournament games they won two via shutout (1-0) and the third (1-1 with the win via PKs). They kept the high-scoring Thunder at bay the first half, but the notion of a shutout ended quickly as the second half began.

A set piece snapped the scoreless tie in the 44th minute. Desert Vista midfielder Luke Dotts launched a corner kick and Vasey powered it and found the back of the net past Chandler keeper Simon Turner. Turner managed a couple nice saves in the first half.

"At halftime I told our guys I thought it would be a set piece we'd score on," Elliott said. "No matter the situation, this team finds a way to win. "You can credit it to our seniors, their leadership and our captains."

Chandler had to push up late to notch the tying goal, but came up empty. Thunder keeper Aidan Klein registered his third clean sheet of the post season. Desert Vista tacked on an insurance goal in the 75th minute with Kaya Yildirim doing the honors off a Vasey assist. Dotts was the Thunder's assist leader this season.

 

Desert Vista players signal "5" after winning the school's 5th boys soccer crown. (Azpreps365 photo)