Seemingly the only certainties are death, taxes and Salpointe Catholic soccer in the state championship game.
Both the Salpointe girls and boys look to win their four straight state title. No school has won eight boys and girls state championships in four years.
For the Salpointe girls (13-2-2), a fourth state championship would tie the Southern Arizona record. Catalina Foothills won four from 2010 to 2013.
It would also tie for the most big school titles in a row as only Chandler Seton Catholic has won more than four in a row (six) but that came when they were at the 1A-3A level.
Salpointe and Foothills both have previous stretches of three peats, with Salpointe’s coming in 2017 to 2019.
Salpointe is second in overall girls state championships won with 10. Phoenix Xavier Prep has 13 and is going for the 6A title on Saturday.
Salpointe's Bella Malovich (9) leaps into the arms of Rylen Bourguet (2) after Bourguet poked home the game winner past Walden Grove keeper Megan Blatnik (0) late in the second half of the 4A state girl's high school soccer championship game at Tucson High School on Feb. 25, 2023. Final score: 2-1, Lancers.
It’s the Lancer ladies’ 16th state final appearance, behind only Xavier, who has 18.
Thanks to a pair of goals by Nicolas Valenzuela and one apiece from Marco Torres and Leo Gutierrez, the Salpointe Catholic boys soccer team won its 10th Arizona high school state championship Feb. 24, 2023, defeating Scottsdale Saguaro, 4-1, at Glendale High School to secure the Class 4A crown.
For the boys (18-5) a fourth straight championship would tie Lakeside Blue Ridge, Chino Valley and Yuma Catholic for most consecutive state titles but they would be the only big school in that elite company.
Overall the Lancer boys have won 10 state championships. Blue Ridge has the most in the state with 11 but Salpointe already has the most big school championships, passing Phoenix Brophy Prep last year.
The Broncos missed the state tournament this year and Blue Ridge lost in the first round of the fall soccer tourney.
It’s the Salpointe boys’ 15th state final appearance, which moved them past Brophy’s 14. They only trail small school Blue Ridge’s 18.
While the Lancer boys face state championship game debutant Mica Mountain, the girls play Walden Grove, again.
The Lancers beat WG in the last two state tournaments, including last year in the final at Tucson High.
During the regular season Salpointe and Walden Grove played to a 1-1 draw at WG.
VIDEO: Salpointe Catholic's Nicholas Soto scores during the Lancers' 7-0 Class 4A boys high school state soccer quarterfinal win over Phoenix Thunderbird on Feb. 17. (James Kelley/Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
VIDEO: Salpointe Catholic's Jose Luis Delgado-Arias scores during the Lancers' 7-0 Class 4A boys high school state soccer quarterfinal win over Phoenix Thunderbird on Feb. 17. (James Kelley/Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
VIDEO: Salpointe Catholic's Diegoctavio Garcia Yanez scores during the Lancers' 7-0 Class 4A boys high school state soccer quarterfinal win over Phoenix Thunderbird on Feb. 17. (James Kelley/Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
VIDEO: Salpointe Catholic's Leo Gutierrez scores the second of his two goals during the Lancers' 7-0 Class 4A boys high school state soccer quarterfinal win over Phoenix Thunderbird on Feb. 17. (James Kelley/Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
VIDEO: Salpointe Catholic's Leo Gutierrez scores one of his two goals during the Lancers' 7-0 Class 4A boys high school state soccer quarterfinal win over Phoenix Thunderbird on Feb. 17. (James Kelley/Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
