Cienega and Ironwood Ridge battled to a 2-2 tie Thursday and the result could have a major effect on seeding, depending on how the tie is factored into the power-rankings come Friday afternoon. Cienega (14-3-2) came in ranked No. 2 in the 5A Conference and Ironwood Ridge (5-7-3) was No. 18 with a week left in the regular season.

Cienega is still undefeated in power-ranking matches at 8-0-2 and a win might have solidified the highest seed the program has ever had since the 2007 squad entered the playoffs ranked No. 3 and eventually lost to powerhouse Catalina Foothills 1-0 in the championship match. Remarkably, the 2008 squad entered the playoffs ranked No.15 but made it the final where the Bobcats lost to Sabino in a heartbreaking 8-7 loss in PKs.

The program went on to miss the playoffs from 2012 to 2016 but the current team climbed from No. 36 in 2015 to the high ranking the Bobcats enjoy this year and the team is led by senior Haley Harris. Harris picked up goals 18 and 19 with the first coming off a corner from Kortney Cahill two minutes in and the second came in the 45th off another corner from Cahill to overcome a 2-1 deficit.

Ironwood Ridge senior forward Katie Jeffers found the net in the 11th minute to tie the match up 1-1 and she went one-on-one in the box to put the Nighthawks up 2-1 in the 35th.

The Nighthawks made it to the 5A semifinal round last year where the team lost to eventual state champion Campo Verde 1-0. It was the fourth straight semifinal loss by the Nighthawks with each loss coming by one goal. Ironwood Ridge made it to the 2011 championship match, losing 4-2 to Pinnacle.

The Nighthawks will finish the regular season in dramatic fashion with three straight games next week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with No. 5 Higley coming to town on Wednesday. It will be difficult, but the Nighthawks could climb high enough to miss the play-in tournament scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 13.

The Bobcats have two matches left and they will both be at home with Marana visiting on Tuesday and Douglas coming in on Thursday.

Katie Jeffers (28) scores her second goal for Ironwood Ridge. (Photo courtesy of Jillian Watkins)