By Raymundo Frasquillo
MORENCI – The 3A No. 8 Thatcher Eagles (5-1 seeding, 2.9847 rating) will enter Lawson Stadium on Saturday, Jan. 25, instead of Jan. 21. Lack of available officials prompted the last-minute change. The pairing with 2A No. 28 Morenci (1-5, minus 14.6695) begins at 11 a.m.
The Maurizio Ciriello-coached Morenci Wildcats travel to Eloy for a region match with No. 22 Santa Cruz (2-4, minus 6.4516) on Thursday, Jan. 23.
Morenci has faced the Eagles twice previously when both were in the 3A Southeast Region. The Eagles prevailed both times, 7-0 on Mickelson Field (Jan. 22, 2024) and 5-1 in Lawson Stadium (Jan. 25, 2023).
2A South Region Standings
Region standings as of Jan. 18 were San Miguel (8-0 seeding, 2-0 3A South Region) first, Desert Christian (5-3, 2-0) second, Eloy Santa Cruz (2-4, 0-1) Tombstone (3-3, 0-0) third, Eloy Santa Cruz (2-4, 0-1) fourth, Morenci (0-5, 0-1) fifth, and Florence American Leadership – Anthem South (0-8, 0-1) sixth.
In region play this week (Jan. 20-25), San Miguel hosts Tombstone, and Desert Christian hosts Santa Cruz on Tuesday, Jan. 21. San Miguel also visits ALA—Anthem South, and Desert Christian hosts Tombstone. Santa Cruz hosts Morenci on Jan. 23.
Non-region pairings include Morenci hosting 3A South Region Thatcher on Jan. 25.
To date in region contests, San Miguel Mercy Ruled Morenci (10-2, Jan. 9) and shutout Santa Cruz (4-0, Jan. 15), and Desert Christian shutout ALA – Anthem South (6-0, Jan. 9) and downed Morenci (702, Jan. 15).
3A South Region Standings
Region standings as of Jan. 18 were Pucsh Ridge Christian (5-7 overall, 4-2 seeding, 3-0 3A South Region) first, Catalina (9-5-2, 6-1-1, 3-0-1) second, Palo Verde Magnet (10-7, 4-3, 2-1) third, Empire (8-3-1, 5-2-1, 2-1-1) fourth, Thatcher (7-6-1, 5-2, 2-2) fifth, Tanque Verde (5-6-1, 4-3-1, 2-2) sixth, Safford (2-7, 2-5, 1-2) seventh, Sabino (0-12, 0-8, 0-3) eighth, and Andrada Polytechnic (1-7, 1-7, 0-4) ninth.
Santa Cruz Dust Devils (2-6)
Santa Cruz (2-6 overall, 2-4 seeding, 0-2 3A East Region) averages a score per match of 3-3 (15-20) or a tie. The Homar Cruz-coached Dust Devils have wins over Tombstone (6-4, Dec. 11) and Scottsdale Cicero Prep (3-0, Dec. 13), along with losses to Desert Christian (3-4, Dec. 2), Phoenix NFL Yet (0-2, Dec. 4), San Miguel (0-4, Jan. 15), and Gilbert Classical (3-6, Jan. 17).
Additionally, the Dust Devils went 0-2 during the Queen Creek American Leadership—Ironwood tourney, losing to San Tan Valley Combs (0-9, Dec. 5) and Chandler Seton Catholic (0-4, Dec. 6). Santa Cruz (2-4 seeding, 0-2 3A East Region) is averaging an overall score per match of 2-4 (15-33), or a 2-point deficit.
The Dust Devils have a 14-member team of two seniors, ten juniors, and two sophomores. The roster includes seniors Andres Dominguez and Alejandro Salazar; juniors Jesus Arredondo, Gabriel Beltran, Andres Cosillos, Brian Lizarraga, Angel Morales, Adrian Ramirez, Alejandro Ramirez, Nathaniel Ramos, Alejandro Salazar, Fernando Saramieto; and sophomores Samuel Aguirre and Juan Bojorquez.
Santa Cruz competes in the 6-member 2A South Region with Florence American Leadership – Anthem South, Morenci, Tombstone, and Tucson schools Desert Christian and San Miguel Catholic.
Thatcher Eagles (7-6-1)
Thatcher (7-6-1 overall, 5-2 seeding, 2-2 3A South Region) averages a score per match of 4-2 (31-13) or a 2-point margin. The Eagles have wins over Tucson Tanque Verde (4-3 OT, Dec. 12), Tucson Sahuaro (7-1, Dec. 16), Tucson Andrada Polytechnic (8-0, Jan. 6), Coolidge (8-0, Jan. 9), and Tanque Verde (2-1, Jan. 15) along with losses to Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (1-3, Jan. 9) and Tucson Catalina (1-5, Jan. 17).
In addition, the Eagles went 1-2 during the Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin tourney and 1-2-1 during the Gilbert Arete Prep tourney. The wins were over Prescott (1-0, Dec. 6) and Yuma Gila Ridge (2-1, Jan. 4) while the losses were to Yuma Cibola (0-2, Dec. 6), Yuma Kofa (0-6, Dec. 7), Surprise Paradise Honors (0-2, Jan. 3), and Chandler Valley Christian (0-1, Jan. 4). The tie was with Tempe McClintock (2-2, Jan. 3). Thatcher is averaging an overall score per match of 3-2 (36-27) or a 1-point margin.
The Eagles have a 21-member team of eight seniors, 11 juniors, one sophomore, and one freshman. The roster includes seniors Kody Bingham (6), Will Chidester (9), Crew Farris (2), Blake French (17), Patrick Nicholas (23), Brasen Penrod (8), Cade Winkler (22), and Callum Winkler (13); juniors Ethan Griffin (1), Smith Mangum (21), Luke Marble (25), Trent Nelson (4), Bryson Nielson (7), Nevin Patton (14/38), Noah Rasmussen (20), Ty Shupe (18), Tanner Smith (10), Cayson Stayley (1), and Cash Whittle (11); sophomore Thomas Chidester (5); and freshman Aiden Alva (15).
Thatcher competes in the 9-member 3A South Region with Safford and Tucson schools Andrada Polytechnic, Catalina, Empire, Palo Verde Magnet, Pusch Ridge Christian, Sabino, and Tanque Verde.
Morenci Wildcats (1-5)
Morenci (1-5 overall, 1-5 seeding, 0-1 2A South Region) averages a score per match of 1-5 (8-29) or a 4-point deficit. The Maurizio Ciriello-coached Wildcats have a win over Globe (1-0, Jan. 13) as well as losses to Desert Christian (1-6, Dec. 5), Tombstone (1-4, Dec. 20), Globe (1-2, Jan. 6), San Miguel (2-10, Jan. 9), and Desert Christian (2-7, Jan. 15).
Morenci’s offensive output is eight goals, with senior midfielder/forward Armando Lopez Rivera having seven to his credit and junior forward Lyndale Waterhouse the other.
The Wildcats have a 22-member roster of four seniors, eight juniors, two sophomores, and eight freshmen. The Wildcats include seniors Nolyn Adams (3), Bryant Figueroa (8), Armando Lopez Rivera (11), and Jossue Vaca Jr. (10); juniors Aaron Esquivel (37), Emma Kerrigan (6), Samiel Kitcheyan (12), Summer Luster (13), Johnny Madrid (32/66), Manuel Medina (14/99), Jose Torres (20), and Lyndale Waterhouse (16); sophomores Karol Escalona (7) and Clayton Jacobs (40); and freshmen Emily Dominquez (9), Katerine Escalona (1), Christian Kudadiri (4), Braxton Merrill (2), Juan Ramirez (5), Aiden Nogales (19), Juaquin Ma (33), and Lohgan Szymanski (18).
Morenci competes in the 6-member 2A South Region with Eloy Santa Cruz, Florence American Leadership – Anthem South, Tombstone, Tucson Desert Christian, and Tucson San Miguel.
Desert Christian – 7, Morenci – 2
The Wildcats scored twice but still succumbed to the Eagles by five as they did earlier in the season.
Morenci – 1, Globe – 0
A lack of experience had plagued the Wildcats, who lost through graduation.
Everything reviewed and repeated repeatedly during practice sessions seems to have sunk in. The defense worked as it was supposed to, resulting in no goals scored by the opponent during 80 minutes following eight shots on goal.
Offensively, Morenci only scored once, but it was all that was necessary.
