LINK: FREE BRANDON BEAN PHOTOS
The Tucson High girls held off Salpointe in kicks from the mark 4-3 in the semifinal round Friday morning at the Brandon Bean Tournament and the Badgers went on to defeat Walden Grove Friday night to capture the first tournament championship for the program. Held scoreless in the Salpointe match, the Badgers came back from a 2-0 deficit in the final ten minutes of play against Walden Grove to force overtime and then to the deciding PK round where the team came away with another 4-3 victory.
Tucson freshman keeper Mariely Jimenez came up with 12 saves in the final to earn “Keeper of the Tournament” honors but a goal from Milana Eyrich in the 43rd minute and a goal from Vivian Villarreal in the 46th put the Badgers in a hole. Villarreal earned “Field Player of the Tournament” honors for her play.
Tucson freshman keeper Mariely Jimenez named MVP of the Brandon Bean. Back to back victories in kick from the mark against Salpointe and then Walden Grove #azpreps365 pic.twitter.com/8gL5f5jVjU
— Andy Morales (@AndyMorales8) December 3, 2022
The match turned on a penalty kick from Yahaira Cervantes in the 70th minute to cut the Walden Grove lead down to 2-1 and then Marisa Garate used her right knee to score off of a corner offering from Cervantes in the 78th sent the match to two 10-minute “Golden Goal” overtime periods. Jimenez came up with five saves in overtime and Walden Grove keeper Mireya Colorado had three of her eight saves to preserve the 2-2 tie.
Villareal put Walden Grove up 1-0 on a goal to the upper left and Garate tied it up 1-1 on her offering to the top right. A miss from Walden Grove was followed by a goal from Cervantes to the bottom right corner to put the Badgers up 2-1.
Savannah Michel hit the top left corner and Walden Grove tied it up 2-2 and then Colorado blocked a Badger attempt to keep it tied up. Another miss from Walden Grove gave leverage back to the Badgers and Crystal Linares hit the net to put Tucson up 3-2.
Meredith Galus scored to tie it up 3-3 but Krystal Navarro put away the final shot for the 4-3 win by the Badgers.
Walden Grove beat Tucson 2-0 in pool play on Wednesday so the Badgers will start the regular season with a 4-1 record at Tolleson (3-1) next Tuesday. Walden Grove (4-1) will travel to Pueblo (2-3) on Monday night.
LINK: SALPOINTE BOYS OVER WALDEN GROVE
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28
B: Mountain View 5, Cholla 0
B: Buena 2, Ironwood Ridge 0
B: Nogales 7, Catalina 0
B: Walden Grove 9, Sabino 1
G: Sahuarita 6, Flowing Wells 0
G: Ironwood Ridge 3, Buena 0
G: Nogales 6, Catalina 0
G: Walden Grove 4, Sabino 1
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29
B: Catalina Foothills 8, Sabino 0
B: Rincon/UHS 3, Buena 2
B: Pusch Ridge 2, Mountain View 1
B: Salpointe 8, Catalina 0
G: Tucson 2, Sabino 0
G: Rincon/UHS 4, Buena 1
G: Sahuarita 2, Pusch Ridge 0
G: Salpointe 8, Catalina 0
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30
B: Pusch Ridge 4, Cholla 0
B: Walden Grove 3, Catalina Foothills 2
B: Rincon/UHS 4, Ironwood Ridge 1
B: Salpointe 4, Nogales 0
G: Pusch Ridge 1, Flowing Wells 0
G: Walden Grove 2, Tucson 0
G: Ironwood Ridge 2, Rincon/UHS 2
G: Salpointe 6, Nogales 0
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1
B: Ironwood Ridge 2, Catalina 0
B: Sabino 1, Cholla 0
B: Walden Grove 1, Mountain View 0
B: Catalina Foothills 3, Pusch Ridge 2
B: Nogales 4, Rincon/UHS 0
B: Salpointe 4, Buena 1
G: Buena 1, Catalina 0
G: Sabino 1, Flowing Wells 0
G: Walden Grove 5, Pusch Ridge 0
G: Tucson 6, Sahuarita 3
G: Ironwood Ridge 5, Nogales 2
G: Salpointe 5, Rincon/UHS 0
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2
SEMIFINALS
G: Tucson over Salpointe, 0-0 (PK 4-3)
G: Walden Grove 2, Ironwood Ridge 1
B: Salpointe 1, Catalina Foothills 0
B: Walden Grove 1, Nogales 0
CHAMPIONSHIPS
G: Tucson over Walden Grove, 2-2 (PK 4-3)
B: Salpointe 6, Walden Grove 0
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Named one of “Arizona’s Heart & Sol” by KOLD and Casino del Sol, Andy Morales was recognized by the AIA as the top high school reporter in 2014, he was awarded the Ray McNally Award in 2017 and a 2019 AZ Education News recognition. He was a youth, high school and college coach for over 30 years. He was the first in Arizona to write about high school beach volleyball and high school girls wrestling and his unique perspective can only be found here and on AZPreps365.com. Andy is a Southern Arizona voting member of the Ed Doherty Award, recognizing the top football player in Arizona, and he was named a Local Hero by the Tucson Weekly for 2016. Andy was named an Honorary Flowing Wells Caballero in 2019, became a member of the Sunnyside Los Mezquites Cross Country Hall of Fame in 2021 and he was a member of the Amphi COVID-19 Blue Ribbon Committee. He earned a Distinguished Service Award from Amphitheater and he was recognized by City Councilman Richard Fimbres. Contact Andy Morales at amoralesmytucson@yahoo.com
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