BOYS SOCCER: Catalina wins section on final day, teams prepare for bracket show

January 28, 2016 by Andy Morales, AZPreps365


Flowing Wells came up with a huge win.
(Andy Morales/AZPreps365.com)

No. 5 Amphitheater, No. 6 Catalina and No. 7 Flowing Wells came into the final day of the regular season knowing they were all in the state Division III playoffs but the Section III title along with a better seed and the chance to host a first round match was still up for grabs. Throw in No. 9 Vista Grande and this section turned out to be one of the best in the state.

Flowing Wells came up with a 2-1 (OT) win over Amphitheater on Thursday night and picture became just a bit clearer:

Catalina finished 6-1 in the section and came away with the section title even though the Trojans lost to Amphi. Look for Catalina to possibly move up to No. 5 or even No. 4.

Flowing Wells (6-1) took second in the section with a loss to Catalina. The Caballeros might also move up.

Amphitheater finished 5-2 but the Panthers also lost to Vista Grande (5-2) so they actually fell to fourth place. It was a high-risk match for the Panthers and the loss might have cost them a first-round match in the state playoffs.

Vista Grande might get to host a home match now.

"It was a disappointing loss for us," said Panther head coach Mike Gonzales. "I felt we controlled the tempo and played very well but that happens in soccer. All it takes is one goal.

"We feel we have a chance to get back and make another deep run in the playoffs," he added. "We just have to regroup."

Amphitheater made it to the semifinal round last year as the No. 2 seed.

"As exciting as this win was," Flowing Wells coach Vince Phillips told his players after the win. "We have a long way to go.  It doesn't matter what seed we get or what opponent we have it's not going to matter. We have a chance to do what we wanted."

Edgar Venalonzo put Flowing Wells up 1-0 on a PK from about 30 yards out in the 30th minute but Nebil Mohanimed tied the match up in the 62nd minute. Cesar Hernandez came away with the game-winner five minutes into the first overtime period.

The AIA Soccer Bracket Show is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 29.