Desert Christian, Blue Ridge as expected reach state soccer final

State 4A Boys Soccer Update


As expected, No.1 Tucson Desert Christian and No. 2 Lakeside Blue Ridge from Pinetop reached the state 4A Boys Soccer final. Blue Ridge topped a pesky Chino Valley team 4-1 on Friday in the first semi final game, held at Campo Verde High School in Gilbert, and the Eagles followed with a hard-fought 4-3 win over Payson. The title game is set for 2:30 p.m. today as the Blue Ridge Yellow Jackets will defend their state title, while the Eagles from Desert Christian (21-1) will try to make it two wins in a row over Blue Ridge. In a tournament game earlier in the season, hosted by Desert Christian, the Eagles came away with a 1-0 win, the only loss this year by Blue Ridge. Blue Ridge (19-1-2) handed the Eagles their only loss 1-0 earlier in the season at the Chino Valley Cup, held at Chino Valley High School. A win by Blue Ridge today would garner a fourth straight title for the school.

Soccer note: The first goal scored yesterday by Blue Ridge came early in the first half and was scored by Clayton Crain, son of the Blue Ridge head coach Bryon Crain and the grandson of my better half, Sue Crain. Desert Christian, in a real nail-biter, needed overtime to dispose of Payson as the teams ended up 3-3 in regulation.