Sophomore Cristian Escobar’s hat trick pushed the Marauders to victory over newly found rival Sedona Red Rock High School at home Thursday, Dec. 15, 5-1.
“We did some good things against Sedona [on Thursday], but there are a lot of things we still need work on,” Mingus Union High School boys soccer Head Coach Cade Densmore said. “So far, this team is a work in progress and we are not where we need to be just yet.”
Thursday’s match was all Marauders from the beginning as Escobar, a forward, gave Mingus a 2-0 lead through the first 40 minutes of play.
The first goal by Escobar came midway through the first half off a corner kick from senior midfielder Alex Contreras. Contreras lofted the ball just right, allowing Escobar to do a diving header, netting the ball for the score and a 1-0 lead.
No assist was needed in Escobar’s second goal as Sedona senior goalkeeper Kyle DeTar bobbled the ball in the box after a shot by Mingus and Escobar took full advantage to make it 2-0.
In the second half, Escobar made it 3-0 in the 49th minute while freshman Elias Pondeca made it 4-0 just minutes later on his first goal of the season. In the 75th minute, sophomore midfielder Talon Walz scored, putting the Scorpions away for good with a 5-1 win.
“The match went well. Even when we went up a few goals, we still played hard and didn’t let up,” senior captain Austin Strobel said. “We are starting to jell as a team and the season has just started. I’m excited to see what’s next.”
Although it’s only the third meeting between the two clubs, the first of which came in 2009, Mingus is a perfect 3-0 all-time against the Scorpions.
Sedona made the switch from the fall to the winter soccer season in 2008 but did not play Mingus that year.
In 2009, the two Verde Valley rivals met for the first time, with the Marauders coming out on top, 5-2. Last season, the two locked horns again, with Mingus winning, 2-0.
With the victory over the Scorpions on Thursday, the Marauders improved to 2-1 overall this season.
Mingus lost to Bradshaw Mountain High School to begin the season Nov. 29, 1-0, but turned around and beat the Bears the following week on Dec. 6, 2-1. The Coconino High School match that was originally scheduled for Dec. 13 has yet to be rescheduled.
According to Densmore, Mingus may play Coconino on Friday, Jan. 6, but that has yet to be officially announced by Athletic Director Mike Boysen.
Next up, Mingus welcomes the Wranglers of Wickenburg High School on Thursday, Dec. 22. It is the last match of 2011 for Mingus, which will begin the new year Thursday, Jan. 5, with a match against Joy Christian Academy.
Both the Wickenburg and Joy Christian games are scheduled for 5 p.m.
