Estrella Foothills handles Yuma Catholic
When Ali Quintana sees an open teammate streaking down the field, the Yuma Catholic midfielder normally finds a way to get her the ball.
On Monday, all she could do was cheer and hope for the best.
With Quintana done for the year with a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in her left knee, the Shamrocks fell 7-0 to two-time defending state champion Goodyear-Estrella Foothills at Ricky Gwynn Stadium.
The Shamrocks (4-3), who lost to Phoenix-Northwest Christian in the state semifinals last year, were playing their first game without their goals and assists leader. Quintana was injured in the Shamrocks’ last game before the break, a 4-3 win over Tempe Prep.
“We really missed her tonight because Ali does a good job passing around,” said Jesus Quintana, YC’s coach and Ali’s father. “We had a lot of times we had players open on the wings but we couldn’t get the ball out there. Our passing just wasn’t there.”
The game was close throughout the first half despite a goal in the fourth minute from reigning 1A-2A-3A Player of the Year Kelsie Roberts, who finished with four goals. The margin remained at one goal until Courtney Perry directed a lead pass past YC goalie Mikaela Jackson to put the Wolves (6-1) up 2-0 with 1:16 left until halftime.
“We wanted to let the wind out of their sails a little bit and get that other goal before half,” Estrella Foothills coach Kathy Fox said. “It kind of dampened their spirits a little bit. We were at 1-0 quite awhile. They were hanging with us. We wanted to get a few goals to wear them down a little bit and get our confidence up.”
Perry added a goal in the 46th minute before Roberts turned the game into a rout with a pair of goals four minutes apart.
“That’s what she’s been doing for them since she got to their school,” Quintana said. “She was the goal leader of the entire conference and was player of the year. She’s just a tremendous player.”
The Wolves were the last team to beat the Shamrocks on Nov. 29, the second loss in a row to start the season. They are back in action at 6 p.m. today hosting Holtville.
