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Eagles down GC<br>for playoff berth

It came down to the last game of the season for the Grand Canyon High School soccer team.

Miles Hunter, right, broke the school’s record for most goals in a season with 19. The previous record was held by Fletcher Ogg.

After a 6-0 loss Friday evening at Camp Verde, the Phantoms still had a shot at qualifying for the state playoffs if they could defeat Phoenix Country Day School. But Grand Canyon’s dreams of its first-ever postseason berth ended with a 3-2 loss Saturday afternoon.

As it turned out, lightning was more of a foe for the Phantoms that the Phoenix school. Grand Canyon was on a second-half roll, tiring the Eagles and beginning to control the game’s tempo. But then a lightning delay of more than an hour gave the opponent a chance to regain its composure and Grand Canyon’s momentum disappeared.

"I really think we had them on the ropes because our kids had the momentum," GCHS coach Ken Hunter said about the second half before the delay. "It was a heart-breaker, a tough one to lose. The kids took it hard."

PCDS took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Cody Sonntag, who stole the ball on a throw-in deep in the Phantom defensive zone. That would be the only goal in the first half.

Although the Phantoms began to take control in the second half, PCDS went up 2-0 on a breakaway goal by Sonntag. Grand Canyon got on the scoreboard in the 57th minute when Miles Hunter broke a scoring drought with a goal on an assist by Tempy Walker.

The goal was Hunter’s 19th, which breaks the school record for most goals in a season. Just four minutes later, the refs stopped the game because of lightning.

After the delay, PCDS took a 3-1 lead on a third goal by Sonntag, this one coming in the 63rd minute. Sonntag, who had the hat trick, scored on a shot from 23 yards out on a nice setup by Brian McLaren.

Grand Canyon pulled to within 3-2 in the 75th minute on a penalty shot goal by Filiberto Valerio. In the final five minutes, the Phantoms couldn’t capitalize on opportunities.

Senior Nate Bitsui played perhaps his best-ever game with several saves. The Phantoms played without Chas Iacampo, who was injured the day of the game in a swimming pool accident that required 12 stitches.

"This was a good group of kids, they played hard and have a lot of heart," Hunter said. "They never gave up, no matter what the score was. They responded when I asked them to do something."

Prior to the season, Grand Canyon set three goals, two of which were not reached. But Hunter said perhaps the most important of those goals was reached — all players remained academically eligible throughout the season.

Grand Canyon’s overall record ends up at 7-9-1.

Summaries

Friday at Camp Verde

Grand Canyon 0 0—0

Camp Verde 2 4—6

First half—1, Camp Verde, Jesse Taylor, 17th minute. 2, Camp Verde, Seth Scott, 28th minute.

Second half—3, Camp Verde, Scott, 42nd minute. 4, Camp Verde, Taylor, 45th minute. 5, Camp Verde, Trevor Hammond, 50th minute. 6, Taylor, 68th minute.

Saturday at Phoenix

Grand Canyon 0 2—2

PCDS 1 2—3

First half—1, PCDS, Cody Sonntag, 11th minute.

Second half—2, PCDS, Sonntag (Clint Corcoran), 48th minute. 3, Grand Canyon, Miles Hunter (Tempy Walker), 57th minute. 4, PCDS, Sonntag (Brian McLaren), 63rd minute. 5, Grand Canyon, Filiberto Valerio (PK).


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