Eija Jensen is an NAU School of Communication student assigned to cover Northland Preparatory Academy for AZPreps365.com 

The Coconino boys soccer team kicked off its season with a 2-1 win on Friday, Dec. 12, on their own turf against the Tempe Buffaloes.

Tempe was able to control most of the first half, and regardless of the Panthers having a new defensive line, their efforts were visible as no shots on goal surpassed Coconino’s goalkeeper Jaiden James, who completed a shutout during the first half.

At the 25th minute in the first half, following a corner kick from Luke Adden, the first goal was scored by Panthers senior Gio Breton Sevilla, reaching the top right corner of the net.

Tempe’s momentum changed as the second half started, but with the Panthers' defense fighting back, they held the Buffaloes. With the relationship between the back defensive line and the keeper, Coconino was able to give opportunities to the offense to secure the second goal within 8 minutes from sophomore Colin Pendergast, going up 2-0.

Head coach Erik Carrillo was pleased with how the Panthers meshed in their opener.

“Honestly, my needs, my expectations, they surpassed up just because it’s a brand-new defensive line,” he said.

The Panthers only had three days to work together and adjust offensively and defensively as a team consisting of sophomores and freshmen after losing many seniors from last season, losing two starters during tryouts, and just getting a couple of players back from the end of football season.

“We’re a young, young team, we lost a lot of seniors this year, and we have a lot to learn," Carrillo said. "It’s pretty much a brand-new team. It’s just learning how to close out games, finish games, and work together as a team, because this is our first game together. Lots to learn from this.”

Tempe scored a goal by passing through multiple players and into the net with under 25 minutes remaining. Shortly after that, the soccer match got chippy, with both teams feeling tension and on edge.

Pendergast received a yellow card after exchanging words with the referee during a contact play that sent him to the turf by a Buffalo player. Minutes later, another yellow card was given to Pendergast’s teammate, Austin Raths, after a collision between him and a Tempe player, which raised tensions on the field, bench, and the stands.

The pressure put on Tempe led to the Buffaloes getting physical and instigating a Coconino player, causing the game clock to stop, and both teams were pulled from the situation.

“I have to make sure we have the right culture, sportsmanship, making sure that the players play their game, and not let the referees or the fans or every team get in their head,” Carrillo said.

Once the game resumed, the Panthers managed to secure their score and protect their goal, leading to their first home game victory, starting the season off high.