Photos by Raquel Hendrickson
With three games to go, Maricopa High School girls’ soccer is 6-3 for its regular schedule (7-4-1 overall), while the boys’ team is 2-7 (3-9).
Both teams lost to Campo Verde Jan. 28. The girls lost 4-1 to the top-ranked team in 5A, and the boys lost 3-0 to the Coyotes.
The games promoted pediatric cancer research, with all players wearing gold shoelaces.
Despite a rough last two weeks of January, the girls are still within striking distance of the playoffs. They are ranked 22nd, and the top 24 qualify for the post-season.
“The girls had two setbacks in the last couple of weeks,” head coach Cortney Kellenaers said. “We dropped an overtime loss to Willow Canyon and the game to Sunrise Mountain. Both of those games I feel we should have been able to win; however, they were valuable lessons.”
The Rams host Higley Tuesday for senior night, then finish the regular season at Casteel and Gilbert in region contests.
“Casteel and Higley are ranked within the top 5, while Gilbert is in the top 10,” Kellenaers said. “The girls look to take advantage of one or two of those games and surprise a couple of teams, but our strength of schedule points within the power point system should help us out a lot moving forward.”
Maricopa’s girls are above Higley in the 5A San Tan standings. Sophomore McKinley Hacker is fourth in San Tan in goals and points. Sophomore Lexy Rowe is third in assists.
The boys, on the other hand, have had a rebuilding year.
“We have not won a game since the tournament and are really facing the psychological challenges that come with trying to find a win,” Kellenaers said.

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