Josh Martinez

Valley Preps

No matter what the defending state champion Chaparral High School girls soccer team threw at it, Liberty High School found a way to counteract until the final 12 minutes of the match.

The No. 6 Liberty Lions fell on the road to the No. 3 Chaparral Firebirds 2–1 in overtime Saturday after sophomore defender Madison Liebman kicked in an off-balance shot to send the Firebirds to the semifinals.

Immediately following the game, Liberty head coach Kyle Pooler huddled his team up and told them they had done all he had asked them to do, which was play as hard as it could.

His postgame message was one of positivity and how the Lions had just pushed the defending state champions to the limit.

“I think that proves to our youth that we have that ability to play with the defending state champs, take them to double overtime and be right there,” Pooler said after the huddle. “We’re one decent shot away from tying that thing up and/or going ahead.”

Chaparral struck first with defender Hannah Koopal heading in a corner kick in the 22nd minute that bounced around in the box before she got ahold of it.

The Firebirds maintained the lead through the rest of the half but had opportunities to extend that lead numerous times.

Liberty’s defense held tough into the second half where forward Maya Lorenzana booted in a goal past numerous Chaparral defenders in the 54th minute to level the score.

Defensive play was prevalent throughout the rest of regulation with Liberty’s sophomore goalkeeper Taylor Poland making numerous saves against the Firebirds’ offensive push.

Chaparral head coach Robyn Carlson said she was impressed with the way Poland kept the Firebirds’ offense at bay through most of the match.

“She made some good saves,” Carlson said. “She came out when she needed to because I thought the (Chaparral) girls were on them.”

The Lions’ defense also caused problems for the Firebirds’ high-powered offense, which averaged almost six goals per match heading into the quarterfinals.

Liebman said Liberty forced Chaparral out of its offensive system, which led to poor passes and not working well with wide players.

Still, Chaparral found a way around the defensive pressure and used it in the overtime period.

“We just needed to settle down and not force it into their own defense and just give the ball away,” Liebman said. “I think we did a good job at calming ourselves down and realizing what we need to do to win.”

With the win, Chaparral advances to a semifinal matchup against No. 2 Ironwood Ridge High School. The Nighthawks defeated No. 10 Apollo High School 4–0 Saturday.

Event though Liberty ended its season in the quarterfinals, Pooler said he is proud of how his players “left everything they had on the field,” especially for a coach who is Liberty’s third in three years.

He said this reflects the character of what his players because of how they bought into his philosophy early in his Liberty career.

“Sometimes that’s very difficult for teenage kids to do,” Pooler said. “But the girls did a great job and again, I couldn’t be prouder of them.”

Chaparral defender Madison Liebman (3) and Liberty defender Mikala Prasse (18) fight for position on the ball during Chaparral’s 2-1 overtime victory over Liberty in the 5A quarterfinals. [Josh Martinez/Valley Preps][/caption]