SUNRISE REGION: Cougars score early, blank defensive-minded Eldorado

Coronado’s girls soccer team figured goals may be a precious commodity Monday.

The Cougars opened play in the Sunrise Region tournament against an Eldorado team that had posted 10 consecutive shutouts and hadn’t allowed a goal since Jan. 8.

That streak only lasted 12 minutes Monday, and a little later on, the Cougars ended Eldorado’s unbeaten streak, too.

Sophomore forward Sarah Pate scored twice to help Coronado (13-2-3) blank the Sundevils, 3-0 at Bettye Wilson Park. Coronado will meet Southeast League champion Green Valley in the regional semifinal at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

“It was just good to be scoring goals,” Coronado coach Dana Neel said. “Early goals are always big, especially with the wind today — you just never know what might happen.”

Coronado allowed only five goals in its final 12 regular-season matches, and showed why, allowing the Sundevils only a handful of scoring chances in the match.

Freshman goalkeeper Kaitlyn Fahrner stole the Sundevils’ best scoring chance, robbing Chelsea Upshaw with a diving stop after a corner kick in the first half.

“She’s been very solid for us,” Neel said. “She had some big saves for us. It definitely could have been a momentum shift if she had not had that one fantastic save.”

Meanwhile, the Sundevils (11-5-2) had trouble keeping up with Coronado’s team speed, especially that of Pate, who started the scoring 12 minutes in with a 20-yard drive just inside the right post.

“It’s nice to have speed,” Neel said. “We’re able to hang with most teams.”

A 20-yard blast by Melissa Subu just seven minutes into the second half doubled the Cougars’ lead, and Pate finished the scoring by chipping a ball just out of the reach of Eldorado goalkeeper Chynna Hartman.

Hartman came up with a handful of crucial saves for the Sundevils, keeping them within striking distance for much of the match.

Silverado 4, Las Vegas 0 — Rachel Cooklin scored three goals as the Southeast League runner-up Skyhawks (14-2-1) eliminated Las Vegas (8-7-2).

Cooklin and Gio Garcia each scored a goal in the first half, and Cooklin added a pair of second-half goals.

Samantha Lewis recorded her 14th shutout of the season for the Skyhawks, who will meet Rancho in a semifinal at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Rancho 4, Tech 2 — Northeast League champion Rancho (14-2-2) stormed back from a 2-0 deficit to overcome the Roadrunners (7-7-3).

Lucinda Luevanos had a pair of goals for the Rams, who tied the match with 15 minutes remaining on a goal by Cindy Hernandez and went ahead five minutes later when Alyssa Williams’ blast from 16 yards out hit teammate Jocelyn Mancias and caromed into the net.

Rachael Montoya had both of Tech’s first-half goals.

Green Valley 10, Chaparral 0 — The Southeast League champion Gators (17-3-2) scored early and often on their way to a rout of the Cowboys (5-9-3).

 

Kayla Varner had two goals and two assists for the Gators, who led 4-0 at the half.

Cassidy McLean, Alyssa Rodriguez and Shannon Casey each added two goals, and Kaylynn Burgess and Erika Hanuscin added a goal apiece for Green Valley.