Freshman sensation
Ariana Leamons led Yuma Catholic girls soccer to program’s best-ever season
(1) Virginia 67, Louisville 66 (10) Cincinnati 78, Tulane 49 (11) Wichita St. 75, UCF 71 (OT) (15) Michigan 77, Iowa 71 (OT) (19) Arizona 75, Stanford 67 (24) Middle Tenn. 82, W. Kentucky 64 San Luis at Willow Canyon, 4 p.m. Cibola at Panther Invite Gila Ridge at Big Red Invite
YC vs. Kofa, 12 p.m. Kofa vs. Valley Christian, 2 p.m.
Imperial (CA) at Cibola, 4 p.m. Willow Canyon at San Luis, 4 p.m.
Jesus Quintana had coached Ariana Leamons at the club level for four years, and knew what she was capable of, but didn’t want to put pressure on the freshman heading into her first season at Yuma Catholic.
He expected her to do well, but didn’t know how well.
The answer turned out to be: 38 goals, 10 assists, 3A Region 6 Player of the Year, 3A All-State First Team and Yuma Sun/Yuma Rotary Club Player of the Year.
“In a way, it was a surprise she ended up with as many goals as she did,” Quintana said. “But not because I wasn’t aware of her capabilities.”
The goal total, while staggering, isn’t the most impressive part of Leamons’ season. The Shamrocks, after all, played the lowest-rated strength of schedule in the state during the regular season, and Leamons — who scored multiple goals in 11 of 12 regular-season games, and at least three in nine — had all too easy of a time dispatching of back lines.
It was the postseason where truly Leamons established herself.
The Shamrocks, who only twice before had reached the state semifinals in their history and never before had played for a state championship, went on a run all the way to the 3A title game as the No. 11 seed.
In a 5-0 victory over No. 6 Anthem Prep in the first round, Leamons had two goals and one assist. The Shamrocks won the next two rounds — against No. 3 Veritas Prep and No. 2 Fountain Hills — in penalty kick shootouts, with Leamons converting both of her PK tries in those wins.
And in the Shamrocks’ 2-1 loss to No. 1 Casteel, Leamons had the team’s only goal and looked every bit as dangerous, if not more so, than Colts star forward Samantha Anger, the 3A Conference Player of the Year.
Casteel entered the game having given up only one goal all season