Boys soccer: Corona del Sol notches win with 3 PKs

December 10, 2014 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


The Corona del Sol boys soccer team broke into the win column Wednesday afternoon for the first time this season. It was as easy as 1-2-3.

Three penalty kicks were the bulk of the Aztecs arsenal, but they weren't picky about the goals in taking a 4-2 victory over Mesa High at the Coyote Classic at Campo Verde High School.

Corona improved to 1-3 for the season and 1-1 in its pool in the tournament. Despite getting three of its goals from very short range, coach Dan Salas saw progress in his team's early-season Achilles heel. As one coach commented, the Aztecs don't get those goals if they aren't penetrating the box. 

"We've had a real problem scoring," Salas said as his team produced just two goals prior to Wednesday. "We've had the right idea, but we haven't been able to finish the build-up."

Corona jumped on top just past the midpoint of the opening half. The Aztecs scored on two penalty kicks two minutes apart -- in the 24th and 26th minutes. Freshman Preston Grayson knocked in the first one after Mesa was called for holding in the box. Tripping was the next infraction called and Salas sent senior Mason Hoey to the spot for the second successful PK.

Those PKs took the life out of Mesa, which saw each player fouling in the box receiving a yellow card as well as coach T.J. Hagen for arguing the fouls. Corona made it 3-0 eight minutes before halftime. Ethan Crupe's run covering about two-thirds of the field and his subsequent cross to Hoey saw Hoey connect from about 20 yards out with a good look.

"I wasn't satisfied with our effort the first couple matches," Salas said of this squad that was outscored 10-2 in its first three matches. "Effort doesn't have ability. If we continued to play that way, and not make the most of opportunities when we get them the soccer gods will continue to punish you. Today we made it a point to go all out and get scrappy."

Mesa scored both its goals in the final eight minutes as senior captain Victor Esquivel connected from 30-plus yards twice. In between Corona added its final goal and third PK with Shaye Busse doing the honors.

In other boys tournament matches Wednesday afternoon, Perry blanked Mesa Mountain View, 3-0, and Desert Vista and Gilbert played to a scoreless tie.

Chandler and Campo Verde are tied for the Bracket A lead with four points each with one pool-play match left. Chandler faces Perry on Thursday and Campo Verde battles Mountain View on Friday. Highland has clinched Bracket B as it can be tied only by Corona, which it defeated earlier in pool play and is the first tie-breaker. Bracket C is up for grabs with Desert Vista (5 points) leading Dobson (4 points). Desert Vista has completed pool play and Dobson has a match left Friday with Gilbert. Dobson clinches Bracket C Friday with a win. A loss gives bracket top spot to Desert Vista and a tie would be decided by a series of tie-breakers last Friday night.