Contributed Photo: The Safford Bulldogs are undefeated and ranked No. 2 in the state at the start of the 3A State Soccer Championship.
Thatcher boys and girls soccer also qualify
By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – The Safford girls soccer team finished its undefeated regular season with a 7-1 victory over the Empire Ravens to cap off a 13-0 record, and are 16-0-1 including tournaments.
Safford is the 3A Southeast Champion by going 4-0 in the region.
The Bulldogs were awarded for their hard work during the season with a No. 2 ranking and will host Round 1 of the Girls Winter Soccer 3A State Championship against No. 15 Coolidge on Wednesday, Feb. 8, starting at 6 p.m.
According to MaxPreps, Trinity Dominguez, Breanna Arbizo, and Luz Mendoza lead the Bulldogs offensively, with Dominguez listed at 49 points (19 goals, 11 assists), Arbizo at 36 points (14 goals, 8 assists), and Mendoza at 35 points (9 goals, 17 assists).
Defensively, freshman Luz Mendoza leads the team in steals with 40. Also quick to nick the ball are Olivia Madrid with 36, Sophia Romero with 34, and Samantha Foote with 33.
Tending the net, Emilee Brown has registered 9 shutouts, with 48 saves on the year for an average of 3.4 saves per match. As a team, Safford has only given up 4 goals all year.
Thatcher 3 – Chandler Prep 0
The No. 11 Thatcher Eagles defeated the No. 22 Chandler Prep Titans 3-0 on Thursday in the Girls Winter Soccer 3A Conference Play-In game.
Thatcher will now travel to face No. 6 (Tucson) Sabino on Wednesday, Feb. 8, starting at 6 p.m. for Round 1 of the 3A State Championship.
Boys Soccer
On the boys’ side, the No. 10 Thatcher Eagles defeated the No. 23 Arete Prep Chargers 3-1 in the Boys Winter Soccer 3A Conference Play-In game on Thursday.
With the win, Thatcher was elevated to No. 9 and will travel to face No. 8 Gilbert Classical on Tuesday, Feb. 7, starting at 4 p.m. for Round 1 of the 3A State Championship.
Thatcher (6-0 3A Southeast, 10-1 overall) finished the regular season atop the 3A Southeast and its only listed loss is to 4A Sahuarita, 4-5, on Jan. 9.
