No. 10 Sunnyside boys soccer aiming to climb state rankings

Sunnyside’s boys soccer team is 6-1 and in search of its third straight trip to the Class 5A state championship match.

A No. 10 ranking among Class 5A teams in the state by AZPreps365, in the first ratings released Thursday by the Arizona Interscholastic Association, indicates the Blue Devils are trying to find their stride.

“We’ve been struggling with having a consistent rotation of players,” mentioned Sunnyside coach Casey O’Brien, who added that injuries and quarantining due to COVID-19 contact tracing are part of the issue. “I think having a shorter time to prepare for the season has made it hard for the kids to handle so much game time so soon.”

The Blue Devils, the 2019 Class 5A state champs, were upset by Nogales 2-1 at home last Thursday, but outscored Catalina Foothills and Casa Grande 10-1 in their last two games.

A significant home game against Salpointe takes place Tuesday. The Lancers (4-0) are ranked No. 4 among Class 4A schools in the state.

Salpointe’s girls team is also unbeaten (3-0) and ranked No. 3 among Class 4A teams in the state. No. 7 Walden Grove and No. 8 Sahuaro are also undefeated at 3-0.

Catalina Foothills is 3-0 and ranked No. 3 among 5A schools.

Salpointe visits Catalina Foothills on Friday at 6 p.m. in a much-anticipated matchup.

The following are Southern Arizona boys and girls soccer teams ranked in the top 10 of each classification. The rankings released for the first time this season today:

Boys Soccer

Class 6A

1. San Luis (6-0)
2. Chaparral (2-0)
3. Brophy Prep (5-0-1)
4. Dobson (5-0-1)
5. Sandra Day O’Connor (5-1)
6. Tucson (3-1)
7. Desert Ridge (3-1-1)
8. Mesa (4-1-1)
9. Rincon/University (3-1)
10. Pinnacle (5-1)

Class 5A

1. Casteel (7-0)
2. Paradise Valley (6-0)
3. Independence (5-0)
4. Campo Verde (6-1)
5. Washington (4-1)
6. Higley (3-3)
7. McClintock (5-2)
8. Gilbert (3-3)
9. Glendale (4-0-1)
10. Sunnyside (6-1)

Class 4A

1. Prescott (5-0)
2. Sahuaro (5-0)
3. Coronado (3-0)
4. Salpointe Catholic (4-0)
5. Flagstaff (4-1)
6. Buckeye Union (4-1)
7. Dysart (4-1)
8. Estrella Foothills (3-2)
9. Tempe (5-1)
10. Cortez (5-2)

Class 3A

1. American Leadership Academy – Gilbert (6-0)
2. Yuma Catholic (4-1)
3. Valley Christian (6-0-1)
4. BASIS Phoenix (6-0)
5. Benjamin Franklin (5-1-1)
6. Northwest Christian (4-0-1)
7. AZ College Prep (5-2)
8. Pusch Ridge (5-2)
9. Thatcher (6-1)
10. Gilbert Christian (5-2)

Girls Soccer

Class 5A

1. Casteel (7-0)
2. Sunrise Mountain (4-0)
3. Catalina Foothills (3-0)
4. Campo Verde (6-1)
5. Millennium (6-1-1)
6. Verrado (3-0-1)
7. Desert Mountain (5-3)
8. Canyon View (5-2)
9. Arcadia (5-3)
10. Horizon (3-1)

Class 4A

1. Prescott (5-0)
2. Thunderbird (6-0)
3. Salpointe Catholic (3-0)
4. Notre Dame Prep (5-0)
5. Lee Williams (5-1)
6. Flagstaff (4-1)
7. Walden Grove (3-0)
8. Sahuaro (3-0)
9. Seton Catholic Prep (4-0)
10. Dysart (4-0)

Class 3A

1. Northwest Christian (7-0)
2. Veritas Prep (5-0-1)
3. Scottsdale Christian (3-0-1)
4. Chandler Prep (5-1)
5. Sabino (4-1)
6. Glendale Prep (5-0)
7. Valley Christian (6-2)
8. Gilbert Christian (5-1)
9. Safford (2-0-1)
10. American Leadership Academy – Ironwood (3-0)