By Don Ketchum

There was no happy ending for the boys soccer team from Phoenix Barry Goldwater. Glendale Ironwood made sure of that.

Barry Goldwater had used an improbable run as the 16^th and final seed to reach Saturday’s (Feb. 12) Class 5A Division II championship game, but second-seeded Ironwood came through when it counted and recorded a 2-0 victory on the artificial turf at Gilbert Campo Verde High.

It was the sixth state title for Ironwood, which finished the season at 19-4-1. The school also won titles in 2006, 2001, 2000, 1994 and 1993 (the last two were Class 4A). Ironwood matched a six-title string put together by 4A Glendale Cactus (2003, 2002, 1996, 1992, 1991 and 1990).

“Winning the title means a lot,’’ said coach Tim Beck, who won his third title at Ironwood and is a former player at Cactus. “To win it, you have to have talent, skill, luck and good fortune . . .

“We have been overlooked somewhat this year, so the kids took it to heart.’’

Ironwood got goals from Shye Ozalvo and Michael Gallardo and some sturdy play from goalkeeper Juan Castellanos.

Ozalvo emerged from a crowd in front of the Barry Goldwater goal and put the ball in on a deflection in the 21^st minute. Gallardo scored on a breakaway in the 72^nd minute to ice the match.

The contest was not without controversy.

With 4:57 left in the first half, the officiating crew red-carded Beck for his criticism of them and was ordered to leave the field. He was not happy, to say the least. But after a discussion among the officials at halftime, they changed their mind and allowed Beck to return for the second half. The lead official said he erred by not giving Beck a yellow card first, as per rule, and thus allowed the coach back.

“Things overshadowed the game when they shouldn’t have. At least they were man enough to correct their mistake,’’ Beck said.

Also, Barry Goldwater played the final 26:56 a man down after Roberto Morales was red-carded for taking a swing at Ozalvo as they struggled to gain control of the ball along the sideline. Morales was deemed the aggressor, and Ozalvo got a yellow card.

“That’s soccer. Sometimes things like that happen when you’re coming down to the championship,’’ said Barry Goldwater coach Cassio Saverino.

Saverino’s team, which lost to Ironwood 4-1 about three weeks ago, kept the pressure on in the second half in an attempt to tie the score.

Tyler Terrell and Kyle Summerhill weaved the ball in and out of traffic but were turned away by the defense as they got close.

Barry Goldwater was not about to hang its head in defeat.

The Bulldogs had defeated top-seeded Goodyear Millennium, No. 9 Phoenix Camelback and No. 5 Gilbert Perry to reach the final. It was the first trip to a championship game for the school in any sport in its nearly 30-year history.

“I’m proud of the guys. They strung some great games together,’’ Saverino said.

Said Beck: “Goldwater should be celebrated for making that run.’’