The Mingus Union High School girls soccer team’s opponent on Thursday, Jan. 15, the Bradshaw Mountain Bears, scored the first goals on the Marauders this season.
But after the game finished, the Marauders were still undefeated.
The game finished 3-2, with the Marauders scoring the last of their three goals with about 90 seconds left on the clock, avoiding overtime and cementing an undefeated winning streak.
“It was a little close for comfort,” assistant coach Luke Brenard said. “But we had such a big energy game on Tuesday, we’re probably still limping from that game.”
The first half, which ended with the Bears up 1-0, was a “funky first half,” sophomore Alijah Brenard said. The team got it together after halftime.
“I think we found our calmness and we found our own game, and we weren’t playing down to their level,” she said. “And just found our comfort in our home field.”
Bernard said her goal for the next couple games is to get a goal before the other team.
“I think when we come out hungry in the games, we really own the field,” she said.
Bernard said her goal for the season is to win state.
Freshman Bristol Barrier has similar aspirations for the team, and has made goals to improve for herself.
“I definitely could be more open, like just able to receive the ball, more aware of everything going on around me,” Barrier said, “Like, who’s behind me, what’s behind me, where the ball’s at.”
Marauders Defeat Badgers
On Jan. 13, the Marauders beat the Prescott Badgers 2-0. Before the game, the Badgers were ranked No. 1 in the region, and were the state runners up last year.
“It’s almost good for us to get the funk out,” Bernard said. “It’s hard to stay in stride for the whole season.”
“I feel like we did not play at our best, and if we did play to our full potential, then it would have been a mercy rule game,” Barrier said following the game.
Rankings
Following the Jan. 15 game, the Marauders were ranked second in the region, jumping ahead of Lee Williams, which lost to Coconino, the No. 1 seed in the region. The Bears remained No. 7. Barrier said the team dropped to the Bears’ level.
“We know that they’re not a better team, and so we kind of think we can ease up and that catches us off our guard,” she said.
Last year, the team was ranked third in the region behind Prescott and Coconino and 10th in the state. The Marauders lost its Round 1 game in the playoffs to Eastmark High School.
On Tuesday, Jan. 20, the Marauders faced the Coconino Panthers in Flagstaff, which was played after press time. The team will play the Thunderbird Titans on Thursday, Jan. 22, at 6 p.m. at home.
