Salpointe’s Fernando Garate hoists the championship trophy with his teammates after the Lancers dropped Walden Grove 5-1 in Saturday’s Class 4A state championship match at Mountain View High School. The state title is coach Wolfgang Weber’s eighth of his career.

 Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star

Salpointe Catholic High School’s boys soccer team capped an undefeated season with a 5-1 win over Walden Grove in Saturday’s Class 4A state championship match.

The Lancers (14-0-1) scored four consecutive goals, including a second-half hat trick from freshman Adrian Franks, to run past the Red Wolves and deliver head coach Wolfgang Weber his eighth state title.

“This never gets old,” Weber said moments after being doused in ice water by his team. “This was a really special one. I know there was emphasis on the eight championship, but this is really all about the kids.”

Salpointe Catholic coach Wolfgang Weber gets doused in the aftermath of the Lancers’ 5-1 win over Walden Grove. The longtime coach was wowed by the performance of freshman Adrian Franks, who scored three times.

A few hundred fans and family members were in attendance for the title match at Mountain View High School. State championships in soccer and basketball were played across the state on Saturday, but this one was the only matchup involving two teams from Tucson.

As time expired, the jubilant Lancers rushed the field, mobbing Franks. The freshman was the team’s unlikely hero: He entered the title match having scored just four goals the entire season. He netted three more of them in a 40-minute span.

“I expect many things from him, but not that he would get the hat trick,” Weber said. “That was a wonderful bonus.”

On the other side, Walden Grove’s dream season ended in a hard-fought defeat.

The Red Wolves were making their first state championship appearance in school history and early on had the look of a team not afraid of the moment. They played Salpointe earlier this season, losing 2-0, but felt that they could pull off an upset in the rematch.

Salpointe got on the scoreboard first — and fast. Nicolas Valenzuela found the back of the net in the first minute, and it was 1-0.

Walden Grove remained calm and, midway through the first half, tied the match on a header from senior midfielder Alex Oquita.

The Red Wolves created several scoring opportunities soon after but were unable to capitalize. Two corner kicks within a minute of each other were denied by Salpointe Catholic goalkeeper Owen Lynch.

With time winding down in the first half, Salpointe’s Sergio Ruiz De Chavez reentered the game after being treated for cramps. He scored to give his team the lead at the break.

“Coach just told me to go stand on the 8-yard line and so when the ball bounced my way, I knew I had to shoot it,” the junior said.

Weber said the end of the first half was the turning point in the match.

“The way we ended the half just got everybody refocused,” Weber said.

The second half was The Franks Show.

Salpointe’s Anthony Granillo, left, and Gonzalo Avila sandwich teammate Adrian Franks after he scored his second goal.

The freshman scored his first of three goals five minutes in to extend the lead to two goals, then found the back of the net for Salpointe’s fourth and fifth scores of the afternoon.

“It’s just an awesome feeling, this group of guys is special,” Franks said.

“It feels good to get the eighth title for Coach; he’s done marvels for this program.”

Walden Grove dedicated its season to Raul Alvarado, the father of Red Wolves senior Adrian Alvarado who died from COVID-19 complications before the start of the season. The yelled “Raul!” each time after breaking a huddle.

“I’m just going to remember all the hard work they put in and just the fight they showed all year,” Red Wolves coach Ryan Atkinson said.

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