Jeff Edgington

West Valley Preps

An absolute missile bound for the top-shelf, just out of reach for Tyler Olcan, was all the offense needed for No. 6 Campo Verde to eliminate No. 11 Peoria Liberty soccer in a 5A boys first round playoff game Wednesday night.

In a game of inches the right-footed blast from the Coyotes' Caeden Ming was contacted perfectly from approximately 25 yards out. It sailed (rather quickly) without any alert siren through the box.

It's damage: a season and title aspirations for the young Peoria school. The 19th minute goal withstood the final hour of play.

"It was a spectacular hit. I don't feel it surprised us. Andrew Guarneri is a fantastic coach. His boys are very skilled. I mean that was a defender who hit that. Just a remarkable attempt that got above Tyler (Olcan) & under the crossbar. It is what it is," Liberty soccer coach Tyler Hussey said.

The second half was a little better from the Lions as they generated offense with Patrick Wheeler, Logan Ritter, and - save for a brief yellow-card removal — Kolter Nelson.

Hussey liked the intensity in the last forty minutes, after his team was on its heels in the first half.

"I was hoping they'd come out a little more fired up. It's difficult with the bus ride. No excuses here. We have nothing to hand our heads about. We felt slighted by the seed a little bit you've got to score goals to win.  We were both seeded a little lower (then we should have been)," Hussey said.

The Lions (11-8-3) will hang a Northwest Region banner before they take the plunge back into the 6A pool for the 2018-2020 scheduling block.  Despite a huge hit in graduation (13) Hussey expects a good 2019 class to help take this to the next level.

"It's early obviously but I like the direcion Lion Soccer is headed. Our school is growing which should mean more people out. We will develop them from there. I just want to emphasize how great of a group this team was from a skill standpoint and cohesively one of — if not the best I've had while here," Hussey said.

Liberty senior forward Logan Ritter dribbles down the flank during a 5A boys soccer first round playoff game at Gilbert Campo Verde Wednesday. [Jerry Burch/For West Valley Preps][/caption]