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One way or another, the Northwest Christian girls soccer dynasty was nearing its denouement on Feb. 18.
The question before the Crusaders at half time was what ending they wanted to write. The defending 3A champs were tied 2-2 in the state final with #4 seed Sabino and the Tucson team was taking the fight to them.
Coach Jeff Penzone challenged his team at halftime to play with more passion and win more 50/50 balls after the Sabercats earned most of those in the first half. #2 Northwest Christian (16-1) simply took over the second half, winning the trophy 5-2 and nearly scoring a couple more along the way.
Sabino pushed the Crusaders far more than any 3A team has in the last two years - Northwest Christian has won 25 straight games in ints conference. They way they responded to challenge had Penzone calling this the most satisfying of the program's three state titles in four years.
"We had tenacity, focus and the heart to get it done. Being a top level program is fantastic but it also takes a lot of heart and focus. It was a tremendous performance on all levels, the coaching staff included. Eric and I have been together 14 years on staff. Holly was a player of mine. Greg and my kids play soccer together. Bailey was a former player," Penzone said. "Sabino really took it to us in the first half and they were the toughest team we've played the last two years in 3A."
Northwest Christian was in attack mode for nearly all of the second half, and as usual junior forward Ellie Johannes was there to finish. Senior midfielder Belle Floyd chipped a ball into the box and Johannes scored the tying goal in the 37th minute.
She kind of headed, kind of hipped in the team's third goal in the 45th minute. Then Johannes put the game away with a beautiful dribble combination that sent two defenders sprawling before scoring to complete her hat trick.
"I couldn't have asked for a better ball from Belle (on the third goal). Belle Floyd gave me two assists out of the three. I couldn't do it without the midfielders and our defense. Honestly, I'm just the last person to touch the ball so I get the credit Johannes said.
While Johannes strictly talked up her teammates, Penzone was happy to talk about the state's leading goal scorer, who finished with 56 goals in 17 matches.
And, as Penzone said, there is a lot more to Johannes than her game-breaking ability.
"She leads with intensity but she also leads with a caring heart. The girls know that she cares about them," Penzone said. "She kind of lifted them on her back as far as scoring goes. We were able to make some openings and that fifth midfielder really opened things up for us as well. Those are her friends at school, and that makes it easier."
This was an end of an era for the Crusaders, no matter the result. Thirteen of the 23 players listed on the varsity roster are seniors.
And Penzone and assistant Eric Maszton decided to retire after this season. He credited Maszton with the key strategic change at halftime as the catalyst for the second half surge.
"We took Tatum (Berkwitt) off the forward line. She's been a defender in her life so we slotted her back because we wanted to match speed with their girl in the middle and she was a better match speed wise. Penzone said. "Basically we moved an additional person into the midfield and just let Ellie run up top by herself and it worked very, very well."
Most of the seniors were varsity players in all three title runs.
Fittingly, senior midfielder Ava Campbell set up the final goal with an ideal corner kick, headed in by sophomore Gracie Madeya.
"We all really wanted it as a team and for us seniors this is our third win. We all wanted it so much for each other and winning three championships in high school was such a big deal," senior midfielder Makenzi Wisley said.
Sabino (14-2-2) struck first and had the Crusaders on their heels early. Senior Ella Sabel lofted in a perfectly placed direct free kick from near the left touchline in the 17th minute.
Berkwitt, still playing forward in the first half sprung sophomore Cassidy Garberding for the tying goal in the 20th minute.
The Sabercats quickly unleased a counterattack, hitting junior Athena Huggins in space with a long ball. She dashed in on a breakaway goal that made it 2-1 Sabino in the 23rd minute.
"The first time we were ever down was against AZ College Prep. I've been playing on Northwest for two years and we've never been scored on first. It was definitely something we had to figure out but I think we had confidence in our team and confidence in our midfield and back line. We didn't let it get to our heads. We know what we bring to the table," Johannes said.
The Crusaders put together a dominant display in the second half, producing at least 10 solid scoring chances while allowing Sabino only a handful of opportunities.
"They had some talented players but we knew that if we worked together as a team we could outwork them and win the state championship," senior midfielder Belle Floyd said.
Now a team, and coaching staff for the history books bids farewell, maybe. All five Crusaders goals were scored by underclassmen.
Either way, a special group heads into the sunset.
"I think it means so much more because it's three out of four and our last year, Jeff's last year and Eric's last year. We're all walking out with a win," Wisely said.
Richard Smith Associate Editor | Surprise & West Valley Preps @rsmithYWV
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.
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