Kofa High does not get to travel to the Valley much these days due to Yuma budget limitations, but the Kings first trip to the metro Phoenix area this season came close to being a remarkable one.
The fifth-seeded Kings fought off a first-half onslaught of chances and a two-goal deficit late to No.1 seed Brophy before falling in the final three minutes to the Broncos, 4-3, in a 5A-I boys soccer semifinal at Campo Verde High School.
After watching the first half of Hamilton and Salpointe in the 5A-I boys soccer quarterfinals the advantage was clearly to Hamilton. The only problem was the Huskies lacked a goal to show for it.
No. 2 seed Hamilton remedied that problem 12 minutes into the second half Saturday and posted a hard-fought 1-0 win over the No. 7 seeded Lancers at Red Mountain Soccer Complex.
Juno Boyd came to Arizona and Perry High from Alaska so perhaps it is fitting someone from a state known for frigid temperatures would decide the first-round 5A-II boys soccer playoff game Wednesday played in Alaska-type weather.
A consolidation of sites is the new wrinkle for the first and second rounds of the 5A and 4A boys and girls state soccer tournaments that begin Tuesday and Wednesday across the state.
Perry High tried to douse coach Jim Vanney with a victory bath moments after the Pumas dispatched Westwood in boys soccer Thursday night.
Vanney barely got his jacket wet as the Pumas\\\\\\\' aim was poor. It was one of the rare times Perry misfired.
Mesa High has played a significant part in state athletics with its long history and tradition. Football, basketball and wrestling have been highly successful sports to name a few.
A sport to be honored Tuesday night is one the school helped play a role in inaugurating in the state three decades ago -- boys soccer.
The Mesquite boys soccer team knows how to rebound. The Wildcats bounced back from their first power-point game loss last Friday by stretching Gilbert to a shootout and prevailing, 3-2 (5-3), in a 5A Central Region match at Gilbert High.
The Hamilton girls soccer team ended the 2010 portion of the 2010-2011 season with two invitational titles. Hamilton won the Diablo Classic three weeks ago. And the latest was acquired Friday morning with the Huskies 3-0 victory over Flagstaff to win the Dobson Mustang Soccer Classic at Dobson High.