After scoring four goals in the state Open Division boys soccer playoffs last week, Salpointe Catholic High School senior Leo Gutierrez upped his career total to 165 goals, which is No. 8 in American prep soccer history, according to the National Federation of High Schools.
Gutierrez could move up to No. 7 if he can score four more goals in the Class 4A state playoffs that begin this week. The national record is 213 set from 1981-84 by Sean Shapert of Pennsylvania.
Salpointe’s Leo Gutierrez signals a teammate after a give-and-go went awry in the first half against Sunnyside in the state’s Open Division second-round playoff game at Salpointe High School on Feb. 14.
Salpointe coach Wolfgang Weber, 22-2 this season, actually found a positive element to Friday’s 3-0 loss to Casey O’Brien’s Sunnyside team in the Open playoffs. According to the sometimes-quirky AIA rules, Salpointe now gets to retreat to the 4A playoffs, where it will be a strong favorite to win a fifth consecutive state championship. It opens against 16th-seeded Douglas on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, 21-3 Sunnyside must stay in the Open bracket against Phoenix super-schools such as No.1 Phoenix Pinnacle, its opponent in Wednesday’s quarterfinals. The difference is that Sunnyside is a 6A school, and Salpointe is 4A.
It’s not a stretch to think Gutierrez could score eight or 10 more goals in the 4A playoffs. If so, that could put him at No. 5 in U.S. history.
