Girls soccer: Xavier trims Corona del Sol in 2 OT

January 15, 2015 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


The girls Division I soccer race this year is quite a race. Just when one thinks a favorite has emerged that team gets taken down a peg. The only team proven bullet proof to date -- Xavier Prep -- got a scare Thursday night, but prevailed with a goal late in the second overtime to edge host Corona del Sol, 2-1, at Hascall Henshaw Stadium.

Forward Tessa Zaccagnio used her left foot to net the game-winner in the 97th minute. Midfielder Amanda Lane (both assists) slipped a pass to Zaccagnio just inside the box and deposited it in the right corner of the net. It was the only time Xavier (12-1 overall, 8-0 power-ranking matches) led in this one.

Zaccagnio was three minutes away from having a streak of scoring at least once in every match end. The senior is the midst of fine season and was one of 11 players from the tournament field named to the all-tournament team at the Excalibur Tournament of Champions in California. The tournament featured 32 teamsand saw Xavier go 4-1.

"I think (Tessa) is the best target forward with her back to the goal in the state," Chura said.

Corona scored first in the 26th minute on Laney Gordon's looping shot from about 25 yards out that managed to squeezed through a crowd of players at the goal mouth and go in. Xavier didn't wait long to even the score, taking advantage of a free kick from about 20 yards out. Lane launched it at the goal and sophomore Elena Zurek punched it in with a header in the 31st minute. Xavier dominated in the offensive end in the second half, but nearly ran out of time to come away with the win.

"I told the girls the mental has to supercede the physical (today)," Xavier coach Barb Chura said, her team playing a third match in four days. "Corona always gives you a physical game and it was one we hadn't seen yet this year. It was a good test. I'm glad we played them, and glad it went down to this point."

Corona, which suffered its second heart-breaking loss in two weeks, is now 6-4-2, 3-2-1). It's two power-ranking defeats are to the current No. 1 and No.2 teams in the power rankings.

"We lost last week to Desert Mountain on a goal in the last 24 seconds and this one with five minutes left in overtime," Corona del Sol coach Matt Smith said. "I said coming in I thought Xavier was the best team in the state, and I still think that. They have a good team like they always do. We played with them, and if we can play with them we can play with anyone."