Season preview for girls winter soccer
The 2021 Arizona girls high school winter soccer season kicks off on Nov. 29 for 3A through 6A Arizona Interscholastic Association conferences.
The teams are looking forward to returning to a season without having to wear masks, as was mandated ffor much of last season. Here’s a rundown of what to look for in each conference:
6A
Last season, Xavier Prep emerged as champion, preventing Chaparral from winning a third straight 6A state title when the two met in the championship match.
In the process, the Gators won their 11th state title in school history.
Before Chaparral moved to 6A, Xavier won back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018. At the same time, Chaparral won consecutive titles in 5A.
The Gators made the championship with young players last season and having those players returning will be key for Xavier. They did lose eight seniors from last year including three starters. This year, the juniors and seniors look to step up to the lead the team to another state tournament run.
For Xavier, team chemistry is important and translates to their performance on the field. Players are put into small groups to get to know one another off the field. With winter break taking place during the season it gives the players more time to get together without the stress of school work, according to coach Barbara Chura.
“Team chemistry is a big deal for our team and I really try to set it up to try and create it and when you build it off the field you bring it to the field,” Chura said.
Being in the Premier conference gives the Gators tough competition every game and according to coach Chura they wouldn’t want it any other way.
“We’d rather play tough teams every night than play teams where you are going to win five or 10 to nothing, those games don’t do anything for you and they aren’t exciting,” Chura said.
One of those tough teams is Chaparral, who they will face their second game of the season Dec. 3.
Last season was a rebuilding year for the Firebirds due to losing eight starting seniors from the 2019-20 championship season. The team has lost six seniors from last season including team captains Lauren Carlson and Delaney Penn.
Other teams that could challenge for the title this season include Perry and Pinnacle, both of which made it ot the state semifinals last season.
5A
Campo Verde took last year’s 5A state title stopping Casteel from winning back-to-back state championships. The past three 5A state titles have been won by Casteel and Campo Verde.
Despite losing a big senior class of 14 players, Campo Verde didn’t lose many of their starters and are prepared to work to stay at the top.
“Make sure they understand how hard they are going to have to work to stay on the top, sometimes getting to the top is easier than staying on top,”Drew Guarneri, Campo Verde head coach said.
The Coyotes prepare to lose seniors each year by giving underclassmen opportunities so they are prepared to step up each season. Junior midfielder Graci Briseno, looks to lead the team again and help build the team atmosphere.
Campo Verde isn’t overlooking any team on its schedule and are preparing for one game at a time and making adjustments as they go.
“Everybody on our schedule presents a different demand from our team, we just have to make sure we are prepared for each one,” Guarneri said.
Campo Verde opens their season on Nov. 30 at Agua Fria.
4A
Despite falling in the state championship to Salpointe Catholic, Prescott now looks to have another strong season.
After losing 11 seniors from the 201920 team, Prescott had a successful run in 2020-21.
The team only lost five seniors from last season, but injuries are an early factor. The Badgers have lost their starting defensive backline due to injuries. Senior defender Melia Hoyt has started every game for Prescott since her freshman year, but will be out this season due to a tore ACL.
With two other defenders recovering from ankle injuries, the Badgers only have one returning defender, Macey
Vanwormer, and will be counting on freshman to step up into those positions.
The Badgers leading goal scorers, Kari Kasun and Nicole Raiss, will be looking to lead the team to another state tournament. Along with returning, Ellie Magnett and Rieley Petkovich, to lead the team in the midfield.
Prescott will have to face its rivals in the Grand Canyon conference this season including Flagstaff, who won state in 2020 and was state runner up in 2018.
“We’ve been sort of the bully for once after years and years of them having it their way so it’s been nice the last three times we’ve played we’ve had good outcomes,” Prescott coach Paul Campuzano said.
Other teams like Kingman Lee Williams and Coconino have proven to be tough opponents for Prescott, especially when they play in tough weather conditions like snow.
“A lot of the teams in the Grand Canyon don’t show very well outside in conference play but it’s something when we get there in region play that they really turn it on,” Campuzano said.
Despite the injuries, Prescott is prepared for challenging games and look to repeat their success.
“This core group of seniors are ready, mentally ready maybe even more than the other girls were ready, they are tougher and they get after it,” Campuzano said. “These girls have grit like I’ve never seen so this is maybe not the prettiest team I’ve had soccer wise but this is one of the meaner teams so they can really handle themselves.”
Prescott opens their season on Dec. 2 against Saguaro.
3A
Last year, Northwest Christian won their second title to complete their perfect undefeated season, beating Scottsdale Christian in the final.
Northwest Christian, like other high school teams in the state, had been missing players at practices due to players club commitments that were wrapping up ahead of the high school winter sports season starting.
“The consistency of kids being there has been up and down, it’s been kind of a rollercoaster but now it’s been really solid and we have full teams being able to come to practices,” said Jeff Penzone, Northwest Christian’s head coach.
The team is expecting high level competition from its opponents this season. Gilbert Christian, Valley Christian and Pusch Ridge are all teams that Northwest Christian’s will have to get past on the regular season schedule.
To prepare for some of those opponents, the team scrimmaged Liberty High School on Nov. 18 to determine what to work on before opening their season against ALA Gilbert North on Nov. 30.
The Crusaders only lost three seniors from their championship team and have Arizona Player of the Year, Ellie Johannes, returning for another year. Along with a core group of seniors who are prepared to lead the team Penzone said.
Johannes has also been selected for the El Salvador youth national team and will miss a few games due to the call up.
The mindset of the team has shifted and the team isn’t too focused on their championship from last year.
“Be appreciative of the blessing we got with our group last year, be thankful for the experience we got to go through last year but also know that was last year and each year presents a new set of challenges, new set of personnel and things you need to work on,” Penzone said.
At the end of the season, Penzone will be retiring after eight years coaching the girls team and10 years coaching the boys team at Northwest Christian. He’s coached varsity high school soccer for 26 years overall.
“I’m hoping it will be a great last year as a coach but we are going to prep them up and challenge the girls to be on top of their game,” Penzone said. “It’s been a great experience and great time to coach at Northwest Christian.”