MHS soccer teams see struggles early in season

It was a rough December for the Maricopa High School boys and girls soccer teams.

The boys started with back-to-back losses and then coasted to two victories to even their record. The Dobson Classic Tournament, however, gave them only one win against two losses.

“The defense, we’ve got to get that sorted out,” coach Cortney Kellenaers.

The Rams lost at Ironwood Ridge, 5-1, to start the season, with senior Christian Ramirez scoring the only goal. They then lost a much tighter contest against Horizon Honors, 1-0, with junior Luis Elizondo in net.

Dec.  15, the boys defeated Combs 4-0. Ramirez scored two goals, and Nathaniel Faint and Benjamin Perry booted one apiece. The next night, the Rams defeated Poston Butte 4-0. Ramirez again scored two goals. Perry scored once, and Isaac Miranda scored another. Elizondo posted the shutout in both games.

At the Dobson Classic, the boys were shut out 6-0 by North Dec. 26. They squeaked out a win over the hosting team, 4-3, by scoring three goals in the second half.

“I think their attitudes are good,” Kellenaers said. “They are maintaining their focus on what they want.”

Following the holiday break, the boys returned to the regular season this week. They went scoreless against Catalina Foothills, losing 4-0. Wednesday, the Rams defeated Seton Catholic 1-0. Ramirez scored the only goal of the game, and junior Gabriel Faint had two saves in goal.

Thursday, they fell to Mountain View 4-0. That put their record at 4-5 (1-3).

The girls team posted a record of 1-5-1.

They lost to Higley, 5-0, to start the season. They played Combs to a 1-1 tie, as senior Andrea Perez scored the Rams’ only goal. They followed that with a loss to Gila Ridge, 4-1. Perez again scored the team’s lone goal.

***ADVERTISEMENT***The girls’ first win of the season was an 8-1 trouncing of Poston Butte Dec. 16. Sophomore Amanda Maciel led the way with four goals. Perez took 10 shots at the goal and booted one in.

The Rams lost to Ironwood Ridge, 5-0, in a conference game. Tuesday, they lost at Catalina Foothills 7-0. Wednesday was a 6-1 loss to Seton Catholic Prep.