The Coconino Panthers girls soccer team remained undefeated Friday, defeating the Page Sand Devils 2-1.
Both goals came from junior Mackenzie Brown, the first goal coming 6 minutes and 19 seconds into the game. Brown used her speed to break away from the defenders and find an open look.
“I went through the center, and there were two defenders on me, one on my left and one on my right. I just kept cutting and it worked well to slide it past the goalie,” Brown said.
Despite the three-game winning streak, the Panthers are still looking to develop their skills on the soccer field, with the focus being possession of the ball.
“The main goal is to continue to possess the ball and find the open player. We have to continue to work in the center-mid area, that’s where we have to maintain possession,” head coach Terry Fix said.
The Panthers also worked hard on the defensive end, limiting the Sand Devils to one goal.
Part of that defense came from goalkeeper Caitlyn Power, who had multiple saves throughout the game, including one diving save 17 minutes into the game.
“We work really well together and talk to each other, and that’s what I think makes our defense strong,” Power said.
The Sand Devils scored in the final two minutes of the game, a long shot that was just outside Power’s reach.
“We have to make sure we step up to those players so they don’t get those [shots] off,” Fix said. “Caitlyn reached high for it, but it was over her head. That was a long shot that someone should have stepped up to, so we’ll work on that, make sure that player is not left open.”
With this winning start, the team is looking forward to the rest of the season, where the schedule may get more difficult after the winter break.
“We have a really tough stretch coming in early January — not that any of these teams that we’ve been playing have been easy. We just have to continue to build off [these wins],” Fix said.
To help out with this tough stretch, Coconino will have some players returning from injuries after the winter break. Those players include juniors Amanda Hoyt, Bianca Saftoiu and Rebecca Fix.
The next game for the Panthers will be 3 p.m. Tuesday at home against the Kingman Bulldogs.
BOYS BASKETBALL
PINE VIEW 71, PAGE 49
Unbeaten St. George (Utah) Pine View rolled into the finals of the NGS Holiday Classic at Page High Friday night with a 71-49 thumping of the host Sand Devils.
The deep Panthers (5-0) converted foul trouble for Page’s big men into a 12-2 run and a 37-24 halftime lead. Their only remaining obstacle was Page point guard Jamaal Thomas, who tried to carry the Sand Devils on his back. Thomas had a game-high 22 points and thwarted a slew of Pine View attacks with steals.
Thomas shot 8 of 10 from the field and 4 of 5 from the foul line. Page closed to within 12 points with five-plus minutes to play before the Panthers slammed the door shut. Pine View shot an impressive 22 of 34 from the field, including 7 of 11 from 3-point range.
The Panthers’ scoring leader coming in, 6-foot-6 junior Kody Wilstead, was held to six points, while in foul trouble of his own. Wilstead, averaging 15.5 points a game, fouled out. Pine View was led by Chaz Peterson with 20 points. Garrett Bowker had 12 and Jake Bangerter 10.
Page (2-3) will play for third place at 2 p.m. today. Last year, the Sand Devils advanced to the NGS finals and lost 47-44 to Surprise Shadow Ridge in overtime. Shadow Ridge did not enter this year’s field.
