Blue Ridge, Chino Valley favorites again
October 29, 2015 by Jose Garcia, AZPreps365
Blue Ridge: The three-time defending state champ Lady Yellow Jackets are 20-0 and have outscored their opponents 94-12 this season. Junior Hannah Flodin (39 goals, 15 assists) and MF Camie Edgington (25 goals, 25 assists) are doing most of the damage. The team’s captains, GK Nicole Bratsch, D Meagan Moore and D Makenna Wengert, are stationed on the back line. First-year varsity starters Emily Orona and Mikaila Heisler round out the strong defensive unit of Blue Ridge. “I feel that our team’s biggest accomplishment so far has been to work together as a team and to improve our communication and play,” coach Rhonda Rydberg said. “Each player has been focused on what they can do individually to help the team.”
Camp Verde: “The Cowboys girls soccer team has improved steadily throughout the season,” coach William Allen said. “Our biggest accomplishment is our ability to control the ball and maintain possession. We are going to the state tournament playing the best soccer we’ve played all season.” Senior stopper captain Paige Church is the team’s leader on and off the field. Her defensive posture, patience and first touch help her team hold the ball. Junior striker captain Raiven Alvey is fast and also has a great touch on the ball. The positive attitudes of Alvey and Church have also been assets, Allen said.
Chino Valley: The 15-5 team set a new regular season record for wins, goals scored (79) and goals allowed (19) under coach Allen Foster. The program won only one game four years ago. “We play in the shadow of the boys program,” Foster said. “We are just trying to establish ourselves as a successful program and get our own identity.” Katie Farnsworth (22 goals, 13 assists), Shelbey Shelton (12 goals, 10 assists), Ellie Estrada, Lauren Foster, GK Giselle Chinchilla (7 shutouts, 98 saves), and Coury Hawks are the team’s leaders.
Desert Christian: Senior forward captain Sarah Butler leads the team with 18 goals, followed by Isabel Lane (10 goals). The team lost its starting goalkeeper to a concussion but Hannah Bjorgum stepped in and finished the regular season with a 5-1-1 record and 1.7 goals against average. Desert Christian started the season with a 1-4 record. “They turned their focus to God and took the focus off themselves. In overcoming an adjustment to a new coach, a new system and trusting each other, the team showed amazing team character,” coach Al Robles said. “They understood that going through the early tribulation produced perseverance, character and hope.”
Northland Prep: The team will be without starting goalkeeper Lauren James (yellow card accumulation) during its first round meeting at Snowflake. Snowflake defeated Northland Prep 4-3 during their only meeting this season. Northland Prep changed its offensive strategy this season, choosing to attack up the middle more instead of building its attack from the outside, according to the Arizona Daily Sun. Sophomore Brianna Hovis recorded a hat trick during a 6-0 win over Camp Verde this season.
Round Valley: It’s been more than a decade since the Lady Elks (18-2) enjoyed this much success. Providing the offensive punch this season are senior Nicole Slade (27 goals, 16 assists) and Rachel Brown (24 goals, 12 assists). Senior Monica Leon, Kandrys Bevell and freshman Samantha Madrid patrol the middle. Defenders Kristin Quinlan, Natalie Goodsell, GK Ashley Harcus and their defensive teammates have given up only 18 goals in 20 games. “The work ethic at practice and the overall aggressive hustle in the games has been excellent,” coach Bryce Burnham said. “Individual player improvement has happened from the top to the bottom of our lineup. Our overall soccer skills have dramatically improved since last year. All 11 starters and subs have contributed to our team’s success.”
Show Low: The Lady Cougars nabbed the final state tournament seed and will play No. 1 Blue Ridge in the first round. Show Low gave Blue Ridge its toughest game of the year so far, holding Blue Ridge to its lowest scoring output of the season (2 goals) when they met on Oct. 21.
“The glue that holds this team together,” goalkeeper Anna Baird, and her defense are stepping up when it counts. “These girls have gone through coach after coach each year, having to get accustomed to the coaching style and expectations of each coach,” coach Dusty Zappanti said. “Talent is not a question when it comes to this team. They’ve got it. When they get their heads focused and set their eyes on the goal in sight they are unstoppable.”
Snowflake: “We have five seniors this year, and they have all been great in different ways,” coach Anna Brubaker said. “They have lead this team but also have set an example for the JV girls as well. They are always willing to work hard and never complain. They help teach and uplift. They have all been our captains.”
Those five seniors are Audrey Livingston (19 goals), Rebecca Neff (10 goals), Brittany Brubaker (14 goals), Skylee Scott, and Rachel Turley. “We have worked hard, accepted and trusted coaches and each other and have had a desire to make it to the finals by improving our skills and playing level.”
Boys
Arizona College Prep: This is the first time that the young Chandler program reached the postseason. “We have spent the last two years establishing our foundation for what our program is all about,” coach Joe Paulsen said. “Our success is due to our amazing administration, our hard working coaching staff, and our players who never give up.” Junior GK Nesta Eckhardt, senior MF Cormac McCarthy, junior D Jimmy Seaman, and senior D Mehrdad Dariush are leading the charge.
Blue Ridge: “The team’s biggest accomplishment this year has been the creation of a family atmosphere in which each individual understands that they have 21 brothers that they can depend on,” said coach Bryon Crain of his sixth seeded Blue Ridge team. “The biggest hurdle that we’ve overcome has been putting in the hard work needed to build individual skill while creating teamwork and team bonding.”
Camp Verde: The search for leadership and injuries in the early season didn’t derail the team. Juniors David Perez, Darrin Franklin, Beau Bullard, John Castillo, and sophomore Nathan Shultz all stepped up this year. “The boys have committed to improving every day, to consider the team before themselves,” coach Dave Miller said. “The 2015 team moto is personal sacrifice for team success.”
Chino Valley: The two-time defending champ and four-time champ under coach Jim Clark is 57-3 in the past three years and the favorite to take home the championship trophy again. Clark’s team has outscored its opponents 114-9 this season. Arturo Gomez and Jordan Sanchez have scored a combined 56 goals.
Desert Christian: “We were tested early in the season and suffered a few tough losses in a row,” coach Steve Lord said. “We also had to overcome a few health issues and injuries. The coaches and players did well to regroup and string together some big wins that put us back in the mix.” Senior F Tate McGuire and senior GK Nick Tucker are the captains. “McGuire and Tucker’s selflessness and willingness to mentor the younger players and mold them into the type of young men we desire to have to lead the team in the future (has been beneficial),” coach added. Two of those future stars are junior MF Mikey Lord and freshman F Ryan Grabosch.
Show Low: Earned the No. 2 seed in the state tournament and is the only team that defeated two-time state champ Chino Valley in a power rankings game this season. The team lost 10 seniors last year but strong leadership abounds from every corner on the field this season, as 15 different players have scored. The headliners are senior MF/F Nat Saldana, senior D Zach Davis, MF Melvin Cahueque, MF Justin Goodman, MF Justin Goodman, MF Ray Lopez, and D Kodie Batemen. Coach Chris Ellis also credited his assistant coaches, booster club and administration for this year’s success.
Snowflake: The biggest lessons for the team this season came when it lost three games it should have won. “We learned about playing as a team and not falling apart,” coach Brian Weir said. Bryce Palmer, Bryan Garcia, Wacey Wood, Kasey Neff (11 goals), Mason Willis, and Fernando Quintana are in charge of a veteran team that carries speed and size.
Northland Prep: The team finished the regular season with a 10-5 record and was in every game except for the two matches it played against Chino Valley. Minus the Chino Valley games, Northland Prep has given up only eight goals thanks in part to the play of GK Morgan Barta and defenders Gage Griffen and Ryan Kelly. Senior captain John Taylor, F Daniel White and MF Mario Cruz direct the offense.
Phoenix Country Day: The all-around play of senior captain Matt Rosenthal, the speed of Yash Muley and Jake Sarver’s goals helped the team land a No. 5 seed in the state tournament. The program defeated Desert Christian for the first time and avenged a blow out loss to Blue Ridge last year by winning this year. New GK Drew Hosmar is a quick learner. “We have been successful because we have been committed to improving every week and because of the leadership in our senior class,” coach Nicki Barber said.
St. Johns: Junior F Rainey Nielson (21 goals) and junior MF Ignacio Ybanez (18 goals, 15 assists) are the team’s scoring threats. On the back line, senior Kadin Crosby is the general. The team reached the state tournament for the first time in 13 years. It had to overcome some injuries to key players and moments of overconfidence. “The players have pulled together and played as a team,” coach J. Brown said. “Unselfish play has been the key to our success.”
The Gregory School: Winning a section title and defeating eighth seeded Willcox allowed The Gregory School to reach the state tournament. It did so despite having players miss time on the field, because they participate in other after school activities. But Skylar Decker, a “warrior," senior Moritz Glosslein, junior captain Eric Johnson, and sophomore GK Ben Manninen helped keep the team moving forward. “We have some skilled players with big hearts who try in each moment to find a way to win games,” coach Jeff Clashman said.
Willcox: Team had to overcome some of the same obstacles (injuries, eligibility) it seems to experience every season but rebounded to reach the tournament once again under veteran coach Patrick Macumber. “We worked well as a team and took advantage of scoring opportunities,” coach said. Senior Javier Reyes, senior MF Alexis Hernandez and Ivan Avina are the captains.
