Girls soccer: Corona jolts Ironwood Ridge's playoff hopes

January 29, 2015 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


Corona del Sol hailed its girls soccer seniors Thursday, but a glimpse of the future ruled a long, rainy night.

Freshmen Abby Robertson and Olivia Nguyen combined for all three of Corona's goals  --including one each in overtime -- as the Lady Aztecs defeated vistiing Ironwood Ridge, 3-1, at Hascall Henshaw Stadium.

Corona (11-4-3 overall, 8-2-2 D-I power ranking matches) played without anxiety having already nailed down a spot in the top eight of the Division I playoffs that begin next week. It was a different story for Ironwood Ridge, which competes in Division II. The Nighthawks (16-4-2, 9-3 D-II prm) were fresh off a victory Wednesday over Marana Mountain View that had them resting at No. 15 in the D-II power rankings. It will be a high-wire act with Thursday's loss whether or not Ironwood Ridge hangs on to a D-II playoff spot  (a top 16 finish is needed).

One team currenlty below the No. 16 in the D-II power rankings -- Flagstaff (No. 18 on Thursday) -- will qualify automatically since it won its section title. That means Flag is guaranteed at least the No. 16 seed and would bump which ever school finishes No. 16 if it doesn't make the 16th slot in the final rankings. The final rankings will be released Friday afternoon (Jan. 30) at 2 p.m. on the Winter Soccer Bracket Show. That show will be streamed live at 2 on AZPreps365.com.

Ironwood Ridge coach Sean Watkins and his team will be at the mercy of the bracket show and watch with fingers crossed.

"I don't know, but this may have bitten us," Watkins, who is in his eighth year as head coach, said. "The weather didn't help us. We're a technical kind of team and the conditions weren't favorable to that....... It would be shame if we don't make it. I think this is the best team I've had here."

Ironwood Ridge scored first in the 20th minute. Its goal came via a penalty kick for foul in the box as part of a corner. Holly Ross got the nod for the PK attempt and converted. Ironwood Ridge took the 1-0 lead to intermission and didn't give up the tying goal until the 64th minute. Corona evened it on a penalty kick of its own, nestled in the left corner of the net by Robertson.

Corona snapped the deadlock in the 85th minute as Nguyen hammered home a ricochet off Ironwood Ridge keeper Megan Logue. Three minutes later Corona penetrated the Nighthawks back line in the box. Siena Firestone flicked a pass to an open Robertson who put the match away with an easy second goal.

"This shows what a lot of senior leadership and young athletes can do," Corona del Sol coach Matt Smith said.. "We've played great defense, and when you don't give up many goals you always have a chance to win."

Corona has posted a 5-0-1 record in its last six matches. It's four losses are to Xavier, Desert Mountain and Perry twice. Ironwood Ridge's losses are to Catalina Foothills, Sahuaro, Desert Vista and Corona -- all playoff-bound teams in the top eight of their respective divisions.