Wildcats travel to Globe, Tucson this week

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Jossue Vaca Jr. (10) rares back for a pass to a teammate before San Miguel junior defender Omar Talavera (17) blocks it. The Morenci senior captain was trailed by junior Lyndale Waterhouse (16) and San Miguel senior defender Angel Pena (2). The Wildcats travel to 3A Globe on Monday, Jan. 13 and to Tucson for a region contest with Desert Christian on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

By Raymundo Frasquillo

MORENCI – The Maurizio Ciriello-coached Morenci Wildcats (0-4 seeding) travel to Globe on Monday, Jan. 13, and to Tucson versus Desert Christian on Wednesday, Jan. 15. The teams have met prior, with both posting wins over the Wildcats.

Last week, Globe (2-1, Jan. 6) and Tucson San Miguel (10-2, Jan. 9) both left Lawson Stadium handing losses to the host.

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Young and old fans dressed to stay warm in the exposed stands during the San Miguel match. The temperature was 36 at halftime but felt like 29 with the slight wind.

2A South Region Standings

Region standings as of Jan. 11 were San Miguel (6-0 seeding, 1-0 3A South Region) first, Desert Christian (4-3, 1-0) second, Eloy Santa Cruz (2-2, 0-0) third, Tombstone (0-3, 0-0) fourth, Morenci (0-4, 0-1) fifth, and Florence American Leadership – Anthem South (0-7, 0-1) sixth.

This week (Jan. 13-18) in region play, San Miguel hosts Santa Cruz on Jan. 15.

Non-region pairings include Florence ALA – Anthem South (0-5) visits Apache Junction on Jan. 13; Santa Cruz visiting Gilbert Classical on Jan. 17; and Tombstone does not play.

To date in region contests, San Miguel Mercy Ruled Morenci (10-2, Jan. 9) and Desert Christian shutout ALA – Anthem South (6-0, Jan. 9).

Globe Tigers (2-6)

Globe (2-6 seeding, 0-2 3A East Region) averages a score per match of 1-5 (7-43) or a 4-point deficit. The Tigers have wins over ALA – Anthem South (4-0, Dec. 4) and Morenci (2-1, Jan. 6) along with losses to Tombstone (0-3, Dec. 3), Phoenix Bourgade Catholic (0-8, Dec. 6), San Miguel (0-8, Dec. 14), Maricopa Desert Sunrise (1-4, Dec. 18), Queen Creek American Leadership – Ironwood (0-11, Jan. 7), and San Tan Valley San Tan Foothills (0-8, Jan. 9).

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Nolyn Adams (3) sprints for the ball ahead of San Miguel senior Omar Talavera (17).

The Tigers have a 24-member roster of four seniors, five juniors, 11 sophomores, and four freshmen. The Tigers include seniors Charlie Foxworth (22), Tyree Kenton (2), Uriel Jacinto (11), Andy Tarango (14); juniors Kaden Graham (12), Mario Guerrero (3), Jay-C Jones (7), Gavin Pettitt (1), and Davian Tarango (4); sophomores Aiden Alvarez (5), Orion Beason (17), Matthew Bolinger (8), Garrett Copeland (19), Conner Dean (20), Caden Dryden (15), Nicholas Enfield (21), Calvin Hansen (18), Heber Hansen (6), Timothy Mellema (10), and Mason Sandoval (16); and freshmen Issac Baeza (13), Daniel Rifenbark (24), Romas Santos (23), and Simon Schwenk (9).

Globe competes in the 7-member 3A East Region with Apache Junction, Coolidge, Florence, Florence American Leadership – Anthem South, Queen Creek American Leadership – Ironwood, Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin, and San Tan Valley San Tan Foothills.

Desert Christian Eagles (4-3)

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Armando Rivera (11) dribbles down the sideline against San Miguel senior defender Fernando Orona (26). The Morenci senior has scored the bulk of team goals through four matches.

Desert Christian (4-3 seeding, 1-0 2A South Region) averages a score of 4-3 (26-20) per match or a 1-point margin. The Al Robles-coaches Eagles have wins over Eloy Santa Cruz (4-3, Dec. 2), Morenci (6-1, Dec. 5), Apache Junction (4-0, Dec. 13), and Florence American Leadership – Anthem South (6-0, Jan. 9) along with losses to Tucson San Miguel (2-7, Dec. 10), San tan Valley San Tan Foothills (0-4, Dec. 16), and Phoenix Veritas Prep (4-5, Dec. 18).

In addition, the Eagles went 0-4 during the 4-day Tucson Palo Verde Magnet tourney, with losses to Palo Verde Magnet (0-8, Dec. 27), Rincon/University (1-7, Dec. 28), Desert View (1-4, Jan. 2), and Tanque Verde (0-4, Jan. 4). Desert Christian is averaging an overall score of 3-4 (28-43) per match or a 1-point deficit.

The Eagles have a 19-member roster of five seniors, four juniors, five sophomores, and five freshmen. The team includes seniors Ethan Craig 19), Paul LaPoff (12), Mateo Munoz (22), Reed Olsen (18), and Carson Wilson (17); juniors Mario Contreras (21), Braydon Davis (15), Francisco Ojeda (20), and Roman Sanchez (7); sophomores Ethan Anaya (11), Jonathan Camacho (14), Aiden Jones (6), Connor McCafferty (16), and Patrick Wanes (10); and freshmen Nolan Crawford (5), James Harris (13), Kekaulike Ishikawa (23), Jael Perez-Soto (9), and Jordan Sexton (00/8).

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Snow flurries fell and colored the Lawson Stadium field white prior to the start of the San Miguel match.

Desert Christian competes in the 6-member 2A South Region with Eloy Santa Cruz, Florence American Leadership – Anthem South, Morenci, Tombstone, and Tucson San Miguel.

Morenci Wildcats (0-4)

Morenci (0-4 seeding, 0-1 2A South Region) averages a score per match of 1-6 (5-22) or a 5-point deficit. The Maurizio Ciriello-coached Wildcats have losses to Desert Christian (1-6, Dec. 5), Tombstone (1-4, Dec. 20), Globe (1-2, Jan. 6), and San Miguel (2-10, Jan. 9).

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Samuel Kitcheyan (12) is up-ended as he goes for the ball against San Miguel during the second half.

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.

San Miguel – 10, Morenci – 2

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Freshman Joaquin Ma (1) stays hydrated as he gets a breather.

Morenci scored two second-half goals, the most all season, but it was not enough to offset the 8-point deficit as the Mercy Rule was invoked.

The visiting Vipers wasted no time in the cold, scoring early and often in their initial trip to Lawson Stadium. San Miguel held a 10-0 advantage at halftime, with junior midfielder Jared Arvizo Garcia scoring a hat trick, junior midfielder Kevin Vasquez two, and sophomore midfielder Landon Bonfiglio, senior striker Alejandro Garcia, senior midfielder Misael Garcia, junior midfielder Oscar Garcia, and sophomore midfielder Giovanni Martinez one apiece.

Globe – 2, Morenci -1

The Wildcats held their opponent to two goals but scored only once in the third home match. Globe left Morenci with a win.