Glendale Prep girls soccer dominates on way to 1st state final

By Richard Smith
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A dynamic freshman class has played a huge role in elevating Glendale Prep girls soccer from a first round team last year to a 2A finalist this season.

But this is senior captain Calliah Som’s team, and in many ways, this 17-0 season is her journey.

So it was fitting that Som scored both first half goals in the Feb. 17 semifinal that was her last game on her home field. No. 2 seed Glendale Prep did not face any hardships from there, cruising to a 4-0 victory over #3 Phoenix Horizon Honors (11-4).

“It’s incredible. It’s such  a good feeling. We’ve worked so hard for this all season,” Som said.

Glendale Prep will play top seed Paradise Valley Phoenix Country Day School (13-2) in the title game at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 21 at Mesa High School, 1630 E. Southern Ave.

The Griffins beat the Eagles 3-1 in the season opener, but Glendale Prep coach Robert Ramsey said he takes little stock in that game.

“We had a different lineup in that game. I expect to see other players that might have not been out there with them,” Ramsey said. “It’s not the same team we beat at the beginning of the year. They have a great coach and they picked it up throughout the season. We’ve got our work cut out for us”

Freshman forward Naomi Burge kept the pressure on Horizon Honors in the second half.  Two iof her early shots were saved, and a third sailed just over the bar.

Then she scored on a breakaway for a 3-0 lead. Burge added a second goal in the 61st minute was a gem, a blast from the half circle that hit under the crossbar and in.

“I’m happily surprised because it wasn’t really expected. I knew we were going to be good because we had been practicing for a long time. I didn’t expect it would be this good,” Ramsey said. “We do have a young team but they’re jelling well together. The biggest thing is we’re balanced from the defense, to the midfield, to the goalkeeper ad the attack. We don’t really have any holes in our lineup.”

Som is the 2A West Region player of the year. She now has 26 goals on the season.

Plus, as one of four seniors, she got a matter of revenge against Horizon Honors.

“It was amazing for us. We lost to them last year in the playoffs, in penalties,” Som said. "The first two goals were really big. They kept us motivated and pushed us to score more.”

Under the old setup through 2023-24, the Griffins were stuck in 3A playing against bigger schools. Glendale Prep was always solid and often a playoff team, but never a threat to make the finals.

This was the second year in 3A and the first finals trip.

“It’s special, but I think it’s more special for players like Calliah than me. It’s my job to get them to this point. She struggled with injuries. She missed her whole sophomore year and had a broken nose last year. She still was a top player in the conference and we didn’t have as much quality around her,” Ramsey said. “It’s special for me to see Calliah get it.”

Richard Smith
Senior News Editor | Glendale & West Valley Preps

rsmith@iniusa.org

Richard Smith has been with Independent Newsmedia since 2016, and worked at a Sun City-based news outfit covering the Northwest Valley for 22 consecutive years.

An NAU alum and lifelong Arizona resident, Richard began as a copy editor and page designer at Surprise Today and the Daily News-Sun, then rekindled his love of sports writing by taking the reins on West Valley Preps in 2008.

For most of the mid-2010s he was the Surprise editor and West Valley Preps reporter. Now he’s the West Valley Preps Editor and Surprise Associate Editor.

As COVID restrictions slowly lift, Richard is cautiously optimistic he will visit book stores, football fields and gyms again this fall.