With a 2-0 win over the team from Trivium Prep, the Fountain Hills High School girls soccer team has clenched the 2017 state title, the squad’s third such championship in the past four years.

Before the final match-up, though, the local ladies had to first take on Scottsdale Christian Academy in the semifinals.

Scottsdale

On Friday evening, Feb. 10, the Lady Falcons hit the road to Williams Field High School to play Scottsdale Christian Academy in the state tournament semifinals.

Already besting SCA 5-2 earlier in the season, head coach Alison Mabery said that the local ladies knew that beating a solid team twice in the same season would be no small task.

At about the 10 minute mark, the Falcons’ trusty striker Erika Yost netted the team’s first goal to start building some positive momentum. Moments later, freshman standout Rori Smith took a pass from Yost and drove it home, putting the Falcons up 2-0.

“After halftime, the ladies came out determined again, with Yost and Reisig tallying two more goals to end the game. Selina added an assist from a long ball on a set piece to Yost.”

Scottsdale Christian did not go down without a fight, though, managing to score a goal of their own in the second half off of a set piece just outside of the box.

Charlotte Tornee ended the night with eight saves as the Falcons claimed their 4-1 victory.

“It was a night to celebrate, as the Falcons found themselves in the state championship final for the fourth straight year; every year for the senior captains,” Mabery added.

Still, the Flacons had their work cut out for them, gearing up to take on Trevium Prep, who had only lost one game through the recent season and only allowed four goals scored on them throughout.

“We watched part of their game after ours on Friday to get a feel of how both Gilbert Christian and Trivium Prep played in a playoff scenario,” Mabery said. “Trevium was definitely faster and scrappier than their opponent and we left at halftime confident we could come up with a game plan against either team.”

Trivium Prep

Whatever the Falcons planned, it paid off in the state championship match against Trivium.

Mabery said that the first five minutes of play were especially aggressive for both teams, with Trivium pouring on the offensive pressure. Danica Kerr delivered a message of her own, according to Mabery, letting her opponents know through tight defense that they were in her domain and, for the remainder of the game, nobody would get past her.

“Within 10 minutes, Erika Yost had a ball pop out of a crowd with a quick opening on her dominate left foot,” Mabery continued. “Before the keeper could react, the ball was in the back of the net.”

The Falcons poured on the attacks, dominating control of the game but never finding the net again throughout the first half of play.

Mabery noted that Yost led the team in a “Cha-Cha Slide” as halftime broke, which she said was the perfect way to loosen the team up and settle them down following such a fast-paced first half.

The second half turned out in identical fashion to the first, complete with a goal from Yost 10 minutes in from a ball sent her way by Selina Reisig.

The result was a 2-0 victory for the Falcons, with Trivium forced to take only deep shots as the Falcons continued to keep pressure on their opponent’s goalie.

Falcon keeper Charlotte Tornee recorded seven saves during her final shutout of her high school career.

“The girls played completely as a team,” Mabery said. “They kept their cool and played such a mentally sound, physical game while communicating better than I have seen all season.”

Concerning her seniors, Mabery said it meant a lot to see her squad go out on such a high note.

“They have worked hard together for so long and it showed,” she added. “I am so proud of everything they have done this year.”