Better-late-than-never Perry nips Ironwood Ridge in overtime

February 2, 2011 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


Juno Boyd came to Arizona and Perry High from Alaska so perhaps it is fitting someone from a state known for frigid temperatures would decide the first-round 5A-II boys soccer playoff game Wednesday played in Alaska-type weather.

Boyd nailed the decisive goal from 20 yards out in overtime to lift No. 5 seed Perry to a 2-1 victory over 12th-seeded Ironwood Ridge at Red Mountain Soccer Complex.

Boyd's game-winner didn't have near the expediency of the goal that tied the game and required the overtime periods. That other Perry goal came in the 80th minute -- probably closer to no time left than a minute left. That goal went to senior Chris Aguirre, who drilled home a shot in the left corner of the net in traffic and snatched an upset win from a very game Ironwood Ridge. The match, which started about an hour before sunset  Wednesday afternoon, was played in wind-chill temperatures of freezing or below. The wind-chill was 25 degrees when the match ended.

Perry (16-4-1) ran its winning streak to seven games and next faces No. 4 seed Rincon at in the quarterfinals on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Tucson High. It's the third year in a row Perry has won a first-round match at state.

"We weren''t sure how much time was left, but it seemed with few stoppages there might have been extra time for them to score in regularion," Ironwood Ridge coach Sean Eyde said. "We battled. They got off a good shot to win it. We got caught stabbing at  their guy. It was a well-deserved goal."

Ironwood Ridge scored in the 24th minute with forward-midfielder Roberto Zatarain doing the honors. It was one of the few shots on goal the Nighthawks had, but it managed to keep the pressure on Perry to score the rest of the match, which they almost didn't do.

"They didn't have many shots on goal, but they made one," Perry coach Jim Vanney said. "We had to play catch up. I tried to get them to stay patient. Kept telling them we'd get one back....

"It wasn't our best match. Our effort was so-so. We have to give a better effort next time."