Sunnyside’s quest for a second consecutive Class 5A state soccer championship came up short Tuesday night as the No.1 seeded Blue Devils were upset 3-0 by No. 3 seed Carl Hayden at Mountain View High School.

The Blue Devils fell behind right out of the gates, as Carl Hayden’s Kevin Noria scored the first of his two first-half goals just three minutes into the game. His right-footed rocket from 25 feet out hooked over the hands of Sunnyside goalkeeper Jonathan De la Paz.

The senior scored again in the 35th minute following a deflection by the goalie.

Sunnyside couldn’t answer, despite controlling the ball on the opposition’s side of the field for much of the first half. It failed to score on a corner kick in the 22nd minute and a free kick in the 25th minute.

“That’s tough,” Sunnyside coach Casey O’Brien said. “Sometimes you have your day, sometimes you don’t. I’m really happy for (Carl Hayden).”

Trailing 2-0 to start the second half, the defending champions attempted to piece together a late comeback but were stymied by a stingy Falcons defense. The Blue Devils came out in the opening minutes of the second half on an offensive attack but a scoring opportunity from striker Adrian Burruel-Valenzuela’s hit the side of the net.

Carl Hayden Falcons Alexis Victoria (6) and Sunnyside Blue Devils Demille Flores (18), right, fight for control of the ball during the 5A boys state soccer championship game hosted at Mountain View High School in Marana, on Feb. 25, 2020.

Sunnyside’s best scoring chance came with 17 minutes left in the game, when forward Demille Flores slipped behind the Falcons defense and got off a pair of point-blank shots on goal. Neither found the net.

"I just kept coming in, but couldn't score," Flores said. "I don't blame any of my teammates in this game." 

Carl Hayden scored its final goal in the final two minutes of regulation.

“I would have liked it to go the other way but sometimes that’s not how it is,” O’Brien said.

The 2020 season turned out to be quite the turnaround for Phoenix-based Carl Hayden, which finishes the season 23-2 and winners of 14 straight. The team was just 7-12-1 last season.

Sunnyside’s season ends with a 24-2 record, a year after it went 24-0-2 and captured their first 5A state title.

Sunnyside Blue Devils Julio Lemas (10) argues with a referee during the 5A boys state soccer championship game hosted at Mountain View High School in Marana, on Feb. 25, 2020.

“The seniors, I’m not going to diminish their legacy over this,” O’Brien said. “It’s disappointing, but at the same time, I’m blessed that I even had this opportunity with them.”

One of those seniors if Flores, who said he was proud of the way his team battled. 

"This one hurts; I'm feeling it," he said. "We've been through a lot. We put a lot of work in." 

Check out photos from Tuesday's state title game here:

Become a #ThisIsTucson member! Your contribution helps our team bring you stories that keep you connected to the community. Become a member today.