Salpointe Brandon Bean Kickoff Classic

Saturday, Dec. 6

Semifinals

GIRLS: Ironwood Ridge 3, Cienega 0

GIRLS: Catalina Foothills 1, Sahuaro 0

BOYS: Catalina Foothills 4, Cienega 1

BOYS: Salpointe 2, Tucson 1 (4-3 PKs)

Championships

GIRLS: Ironwood Ridge 1, Catalina Foothills 0

BOYS: Catalina Foothills 3, Salpointe 0

Tucson Salpointe head coach Wolfgang Weber quietly confirmed his career victory total stood at 594 prior to Salpointe's semifinal against Tucson High Saturday afternoon at the Brandon Bean Classic.  Even more, the game was the Lancer's 700th in school history - all under Weber.

The Lancers (5-1) won that 700th match 2-1 by outscoring the Badgers (4-1) in kicks from the mark, 4-3. Salpointe sophomore Max Romo came up big with three saves in the final moments of regulation on shots that got past standout goalie Taylor Anderson.

"Our keeper went out and I knew I had to get my body out there," explained Romo. " I knew each one could have ended the game."

Anderson came up with a save during the PKs to give Salpointe a scoring margin that would hold up when a final Badger offering went wide-left. Anderson was named the Most Outstanding Goalie of the tournament and he wants to leave a legacy.

"I want to lead this team and be an inspiration the same way others were to me when I started out," he explained. "I want to be that kind of player for my teammates and we have to keep up our intensity to succeed."

Since 1982, Weber has coached the most successful boy's program in Southern Arizona. 13 of his Southern Arizona colleagues have won state titles but he has won a state-record six. One of those successful colleagues is Tucson Catalina Foothills head coach Julie Walters.

Walters has four state championships to her name and she has a great chance of winning one more with her current squad. Walters is retiring from teaching this year but has yet to decide if she will be back to coach next year.

The Falcons breezed past Cienega 4-1 in their semifinal match to set up the final against Salpointe. A scoreless first half gave way to a 3-0 victory for Catalina Foothills (6-0) over Salpointe.

Jeremy Siwik is the Falcon's leading midfielder and he also has great expectations for his senior year.

"I hope we have a deep run at state but it's all about enjoying the moment," said Siwik. "Today was just part of trying to get there. It's another step forward because the results aren’t important now, they are steps towards are goals."

On the girl's side, Catalina Foothills (4-1-1) continued their rivalry with Tucson Sahuaro (3-3) and came out with another 1-0 victory against the Cougars in their semifinal match. Sahuaro also fell 1-0 to the Falcons during group play on Monday. Sahuaro standout Allison Raniere earned Outstanding Field Player honors.

The victory set up a final match against Oro Valley Ironwood Ridge (5-0-1).

The Nighthawks defeated Vail Cienega 3-0 in their semifinal earlier in the day with senior Victoria Cooper leading the way. Having given up on soccer to pursue a sure scholarship in track, Cooper gave the sport one more chance last year and NAU took notice and Cooper will sign with the Lumberjacks in the spring.

"We are really close this year both on and off the field," said Cooper. "We have experience and a lot of us are seniors. We also have a large team with 27 players because it was too difficult to cut anyone with all the skill we have."

Abbey Goodman scored on a mixer in front of the goal late in the final to give the Nighthawks the 1-0 championship over Catalina Foothills. For her efforts, Ironwood Ridge goalie Megan Logue was given the Most Outstanding Goalie.

NOTE

Longtime referee Michael Chaison was back on the sidelines at Salpointe, almost 11 months after going under cardiac arrest during a match between Salpointe and Sabino. Chaison's heart stopped beating and an automated external defibrillator (AED) was used to bring him back.