George Witkowski

For West Valley Preps

For Ironwood Eagles midfielder Habeney Weldegiorgi the fourth year is a charm.

After going through three seasons and a fourth regular season without a goal for the Eagles, Weldegiorgi scored both goals lifting No. 8 Ironwood soccer (13-3-2) to a 2-0 win over the No. 9 Phoenix Sunnyslope in the first round of 5A playoff action.

The Eagles move on to face No. 1-seeded Queen Creek, 3-0 winners over No. 16 Ironwood Ridge at 2 p.m. Saturday.

For Weldegiorgi scoring both goals could not have come a better time, being the start of playoff season. Plus, he hopes to show Queen Creek that Ironwood should not be taken lightly.

“Against Queen Creek we want to play the best team,” he said. “I’m ecstatic because it’s my first two goals, but I want to clean up my passes.”

Ironwood soccer coach Tim Beck, who has 24 seasons logged and six state titles, know the playoffs are business and no one will be easy.

“We made a few adjustments at halftime and the boys listened well,” Beck said. “It’s a good group and I’m proud of them, but it’s only the first step. All credit to Sunnyslope, they played their hearts out.

“We had a lot of opportunities, but this a young team, and over half my lineup are underclassmen.”

Speaking of opportunities, just 10:12 into the game, Ironwood had a pair of shots with Sunnyslope senior goalkeeper Jose Escobedo lying flat on the ground, but he stuffed sophomore defenseman Gabe Guerrero’s two chances to keep the game scoreless. Sunnyslope came right back 1:31 later with a shot from inside midfield that just rolled wide to the left of the Ironwood goal.

Ironwood soccer had two more scoring chances in the first half, but one shot sailed just over the crossbar and Escobedo came up big as he tipped a shot over the net that appeared to be the game’s first goal.

Like the first half, the two teams sized up each other’s defense in the second half until Ironwood got a close breakaway 8:39 in - as a wild scramble ensued as Escobedo went high to stop the shot.

A minute and a half later, Guerrero’s shot hit the crossbar, but Ironwood was feeling confident things would go their way. After a direct kick was tipped away at the last second by Escobedo with 18 minute left.

It was as if the duo of freshman striker Adrian Sanchez, Guerrero said “enough is Enough.”

The two combined with smooth footwork and passing to set up Weldegiorgi, who scored from close range with 10:16 remaining. To put the icing on the cake, Ironwood senior defenseman Josiah Spivey’s corner kick was headed in by Weldegiorgi for the goal with 4:12 left.

Ironwood senior defender Josiah Spivey (10) heads the ball away from Sunnyslope midfielder Victor Colindrez (13) during the second half of their boys 5A state soccer playoff game on Wednesday. (Ralph Freso/For West Valley Preps)