Motivated by the desire to have a playoff run this year, members of the Fountain Hills High School boys soccer team started off the second half of the season with a fire in their bellies.

The Falcons faced off against Glendale Prep on Jan. 10 and won the match by a final score of 6-2.

After that light schedule, Fountain Hills has three matches lined up this week.

The first was on Monday, Jan. 14, against Sedona Red Rock. The second match is today, Jan. 16, at home against Scottsdale Christian Academy beginning at 6 p.m. This will also be Senior Night.

The final match is on Friday, Jan. 18, away against Pusch Ridge.

Glendale Prep

Along with the desire to make it to the playoffs, the return of an injured teammate also had the Falcons going into the game against Glendale Prep with high spirts.

“Junior captain Caden Collins made his regular season debut after breaking his collar bone in the first minutes of the opening tournament,” head coach Matt Pugliano said. “His excitement and energy pushed the boys along all night. He was rewarded with two excellent finishes, one of which was worthy of a Sportscenter top 10 spot!”

Pugliano said he was impressed with not only his returning player’s offense, but the whole team’s offensive prowess.

“We moved the ball aggressively and precisely on the attack throughout the night,” Pugliano said. “We were physical, fast-paced and lethal in all aspects of the game.”

Nick Knowles was another standout player on offense, netting a hat trick including a thirty-yard kick into the back of the net.