Stress-free victory

Yuma Catholic routs Sahuarita, advances to semifinals of state tourney

A year ago in the 3A state tournament quarterfinals, the Yuma Catholic girls soccer team prevailed in a penalty kick shootout to advance to the semifinals.

This year’s quarterfinal was far less dramatic, as the No. 1 Shamrocks cruised to a 7-1 victory over No. 9 Sahuarita at Ricky Gwynn Stadium on Saturday.

“Much less stressful,” senior midfielder Natalie Camarena said. “It’s great that you don’t have to worry on individuals (making penalty kicks). We all won as a unit.”

“A couple of the girls mentioned that fact that this game was better compared to last year’s (against Veritas Prep),” YC coach Jesus Quintana said. “I’d rather decide the game in regular time instead of having to go to penalty kicks.”

The game was all but decided in the first 15 minutes of regular time, actually.

In the third minute, senior Isela Estrada scored off an assist from Camarena.

In the seventh minute, junior Cazzia Salgado scored off an assist from sophomore Ariana Leamons.

And in the 14th minute, Camarena scored her first of three goals. Just like that, it was 3-0. “I was expecting a fast-

Buy these photos at YumaSun.com PHOTOS BY RANDY HOEFT/YUMA SUN ABOVE: YUMA CATHOLIC’S VICTORIA DIAZ (18) and Sahuarita’s Litycia Espinoza battle for control of the ball during the first half of Saturday’s Arizona Interscholastic Association 3A State Championship Quarterfinal Round game at Ricky Gwynn Stadium.LEFT: Yuma Catholic’s Natalie Camarena (foreground) moves the ball down the field while Sahuarita’s Alexia Irigoyen tries to defend during the first half Saturday. Yuma Catholic went on to beat Sahuarita 7-1.

(1) Yuma Catholic 7 (9) Sahuarita 1