Richard Smith

West Valley Preps

Success is very new for a Sunrise Mountain soccer program that has not finished a season with a winning record in more than a decade.

But the 9-1 Mustangs learned another good habit Tuesday night. When an overmatched opponent plays you to a standstill in the first half, your response in the second half should be quick and decisive.

Facing an inspired 1-5 Cactus squad playing on its home field, the Sunrise Mountain boys entered the break tied at 1. The visitors replied by scoring three goals in the first 16 minutes of the second half en route to a 5-1 victory.

"They knew what was expected. We just made a little adjustment on a few things here and there that needed to be fixed," Sunrise Mountain coach Bob Hossain said. "

Junior forward Kieron Hossain had the early goal for the Mustangs. But in the 35th minute, Cactus freshman Caleb Oaida calmly netted his shot to tie it before the half.

The Cobras were able to prevent the Mustangs from flooding their zone in the first half.

"Any time you play someone in your district and your region, it's a big game. You have to bring that energy," Cactus coach Mark Harman said. "That was there in the first half, but we weren't able to put two 40-minute halves together."

Immediately after the break, the multi-pronged Mustang offense swarmed Cactus. Junior midfielder James Hansen scored less than three minutes into the half.

Two more near misses followed in the next four minutes. Then, after a long shot smacked off the crossbar in the 50th minute, Kieron Hossain pounced on the rebound for a second goal and 3-1 lead.

Another two close calls preceded junior Andy Robertson's goal on a header from a throw in.

"I think we just need to realize that we're better than we think we are," senior defender Chayse Geffre said. "Once we start playing well, we can take on anybody."

In the 88th minute, junior forward Adrian Mitroi added the exclamation point.

It has taken a while, but Sunrise Mountain soccer is getting to the point this year where its belief is starting  match its talent.

Ironically, its coach said the team awakened to this possibility in its only loss, a 2-1 preseason tournament defeat against Liberty. The Lions have grown into a perennial playoff team at a higher division.

"We played the preseason tournament and started with Valley Vista. I think that game (a 5-3 win) showed the character and we figured out this year that they are gong to compete at a higher level." Hossain said. "The next game we played was Liberty and we gave them a really good game. We ended up losing 2-1 but it's not about a win. We knew we were going to compete, and we learned we could play against the teams on our schedule."

Now 7-0 in the regular season, the Mustangs' turnaround was born of two different factors.

Sunrise Mountain soccer was bound to improve this season as younger players matured. Of the team's eight top goal scorers, seven are returning players — five juniors and two sophomores.

"We have a lot of juniors and sophomores this year, not all freshmen. The last two years, we had mostly freshmen and sophomores," Hossain said.

Then, accomplished club soccer players Geeffre and Hansen joined the team after not playing for Sunrise Mountain soccer in the last two years.

That duo has assumed captains roles. Hansen adds another attacker and playmaker, while Geffre provides soccer savvy and organization to a still-young defense.

"I came in thinking we were going to be really bad because my freshman year, I don't think we won a game. At the tournament, we realized we can beat all these teams," Geffre said. "I think it's just hitting everyone that we can go to state and have a good shot there. Lorenzo (Nicolia) and Cameron Burns, the two sophomores, are really good, as is James. Everybody's improved since I've seen them last."

While Sunrise Mountain soccer prepares its playoff push, the Cactus boys will enter the new year looking to reverse course.

Things can change quickly in high school soccer. Both teams finished with 6-win season last year and did not make the playoffs, but Cactus blasted Sunrise Mountain 7-3 to end the 2016-17 season.

"We have to get better with fundamentals and playing simple soccer, not forcing things and not rushing our play," Harman said. "We still have the rest of our region games going — so it's staying alive in the region. Anything can happen."

Meanwhile, the Mustangs are starting to believe anything can happen.

Sunrise Mountain soccer is moving toward two region showdowns in one week, starting when it hosts Greenway Jan. 18. Two days later the Mustangs head to Central Phoenix to face their likely toughest foe in defending region champion.

"If everyone knows that they're doing and plays simple and together, no one is going to beat us," Geffre said. "We're strong and all move as one so it makes things a lot easier."

Sunrise Mountain's James Hansen (#2) slide tackles Cactus' Zackary White (#10) on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017 at Cactus High School in Glendale. [Jacob Stanek/West Valley Preps][/caption]