Hannah Leitner got past three defenders and sprinted to the goal to put Rincon/University up 1-0 with less than a minute left in the first half. (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)
Down 4-3 in PKs, Rincon/University goalie Genny Standifer used a bit of luck and a bit of strategy to avoid elimination in the 6A Play-In bracket Thursday night at the hands of No. 20 Mountain Pointe.
The sophomore blocked two shots in a row and Addison Plummer found the net to give the 13th-seeded Rangers a 2-1 (5-4) victory and a spot in the 16-team bracket to be announced on Friday at 2 p.m.
“It was nerve-racking,” Standifer said. “I told myself I had to do it. Part of it is reading body language and then making a guess. This feels good.”
DESERT VISTA OVER RINCON AT AZPreps365.com
Sophomore forward Hannah Leitner used her speed to take the ball from midfield to the goal to put the Rangers up 1-0 with 43.6 seconds left in the first half. It was a lead that would last until Mountain Pointe standout Alison Turk found the net in the 67th minute, giving the senior 15 goals on the year.
The 1-1 tie lasted through both overtime periods to set up the PK round where Turk put the Pride up 1-0. Standifer came out of the goal and tied things up 1-1 on a low shot to the left but Annika Luecht put the Pride back up 2-1.
The Rangers missed on the next attempt and Lauren Dill put the Pride up 3-1. Leitner found the net to cut the lead down to 3-2 but Raquel Hagar went right to put the Pride up 4-2. Eilise McLaughlin made it 4-3 and Standifer came up with her first block to avoid elimination.
Alia Raderstorf tied it up 4-4 and Standifer blocked another attempt to keep the Rangers alive and Plummer clinched it for the Rangers on her shot.
The AIA Soccer Bracket Show is Friday at 2 p.m. and can be seen at live AZPreps365.com.
Genny Standifer finished with 12 saves including two in the PK round (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)
Thursday, Jan. 26
6A BOYS PLAY-IN
No. 9 Tucson over No 24 Desert Mountain 2-0 (Goals by Javier Martinez and Luis Mejía, both assists by Manuel Quiroz)
No. 23 Desert Vista over No. 10 Rincon/University 2-1
No. 14 Chandler over No. 19 Sunnyside 2-1
5A BOYS PLAY-IN
No. 10 Mountain View over No. 23 Agua Fria 1-0
No. 12 Buena over No. 21 Sahuaro 2-1 (OT)
No. 18 Camelback over No. 15 Flowing Wells 2-1
No. 16 Glendale over No. 17 Cholla 2-0
No. 14 Carl Hayden over No. 19 Desert View 4-3
No. 9 Arcadia over No. 24 Cienega 5-1
6A GIRLS PLAY-IN
No 10 Tucson over No. 23 Cibola 1-0
No. 13 Rincon/University over No. 20 Mountain Pointe 2-1 (5-4).
5A GIRLS PLAY-IN
No. 9 Sahuaro over No. 24 Agua Fria 6-1
No. 23 Flowing Wells over No. 10 Marana 1-0
No. 14 Cienega over No. 19 Mesquite 4-0 (Goals by Jasso (2), Harris and Pullen. Bacon records the shutout.)
Flowing Wells beat Marana in 5A action (Courtesy Photo)
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Andy Morales was recognized by the AIA as the top high school reporter in 2014 and has been a youth, high school and college coach for over 30 years. His own children have won multiple state high school championships and were named to all-state teams. Competing in hockey, basketball, baseball and track & field in high school, his unique perspective can only be found here and on AZPreps365.com. Andy was named a Local Hero by the Tucson Weekly for 2016. Contact Andy Morales at AMoralesMyTucson@yahoo.com
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