Southern Arizona had just one soccer state champion in 2015, but has a chance to capture four state titles this time around.
From the Salpointe Catholic girls to Pueblo’s boys, each of the four teams heading up Interstate 10 on Saturday has taken a different path to the state finals.
The championship matches are being played at Gilbert Campo Verde and Gilbert Williams Field starting at 11 a.m.
Here’s a look at the locals playing and how they got to this point:
THE OLD-SCHOOL POWER
Who: Salpointe Catholic girls (Division II)
Record: 23-1
Championship opponent: No. 3 Scottsdale Notre Dame (19-2-2)
Path to the final: After beating Yuma Kofa and Sahuaro, the top-seeded Lancers held off No. 4 Ironwood Ridge in a penalty kick Tuesday night to reach their first state championship match since 2001. Salpointe is a four-time state champ with a chance to win its first title since 1999.
By the numbers: Second-year coach Becky Barry and the Lancers have won 13 straight matches, outscoring teams 34-5 in that stretch.
THE VETERAN
Who: Palo Verde’s girls (Division III)
Record: 23-1
Championship opponent: No. 7 Fountain Hills (16-7)
Path to the final: The fourth-seeded Titans knocked off No. 1 Phoenix North Canyon in overtime Tuesday night, advancing to their third championship match in the last 10 years. Longtime coach Jim Mentz also had his team reach the finals in 2007 and 2012.
By the numbers: Palo Verde has scored a division-high 125 goals, including a state-record 62 from junior forward Jackie Igulu.
THE FAVORITE
Who: Pueblo’s boys (Division IV)
Record: 14-3
Championship opponent: No. 5 Buckeye (15-4)
Path to the final: The second-seeded Warriors have scored at least three goals in each of their three state tournament matches, capped off by a 3-0 win against No. 6 Glendale Prep in the semifinals. Pueblo takes a 10-match winning streak into its first championship appearance.
By the numbers: Six different players have combined for Pueblo’s 15 goals in the postseason, with sophomore forward Rafael Torres scoring six.
THE NEWCOMER
Who: Tanque Verde’s girls (Division IV)
Record: 14-4-1
Championship opponent: No. 4 Anthem Prep (13-2)
Path to the final: Seventh-seeded Tanque Verde fell behind 1-0 in the 26th minute of its first-round match, but has since outscored opponents 6-0 to reach its first championship match. The Hawks knocked off No. 2 Thatcher 1-0 in the quarterfinals Saturday.
By the numbers: First-year coach Shana Olayvar has just three seniors on her squad, so Tanque Verde could be a team to watch.
