By Mark Carlisle
Twitter: @mwcarlisle

No. 14 Shadow Ridge couldn’t keep up with No. 3 Gilbert Highland, losing 9-1 Feb. 15 at Highland for a first-round exit in the 6A playoffs. The game was cut 11 minutes short by the mercy rule after Highland’s ninth goal.

Shadow Ridge (13-4-1) has now had a first-round exit from the playoffs in both of its two years in 6A. Coach John Gray mentioned he’s coaching a young team, with four freshman and three sophomore starting, and to improve they’ll need to commit fewer bad fouls and improve on fundamentals like receiving passes and playing balls in the air.

“We’ve got a solid group, we’ve just got to mature,” Gray said.

Highland eventually fell  to No. 7 Chandler Hamilton n the state semifinals.

The Stallions held their own for the first 13 minutes, playing tough defense but getting little to nothing started on offense. After the first goal came — an impressive free kick strike by junior Madison Cullinan into the top right corner from about 35 yards out — the Stallions’ energy dropped, allowing another quick goal just a minute later.

Still, for most of the first half it seemed Shadow Ridge could overcome the 2-0 deficit if it could ever get its offense going. But while the Stallions could come up with many tough defensive stops, many from senior defender Piper Stone, most of their counter attacks died near midfield, largely because they couldn’t match the speed of the Hawks players.

Highland coach Andy Barber said he thought Shadow Ridge had a good game plan but was hindered by a lack of speed compared to the Hawks players.

“I think they struggled with our speed a little bit, but I liked what they were trying to do,” Barber said.

Just before the half, the Hawks scored a flurry of goals — three in four minutes — to put the game out of reach at 5-0.

More goals came in the second half, with the deficit stretching to 7-0 before Shadow Ridge finally scored its first goal. Every Highland goal adding to the rout seemed to sap a little more energy from the Stallion players.

The lone Shadow Ridge goal came off the foot of sophomore Sophie Konieczny. A loose ball bounced to Konieczny at the top left of the box and she drilled it into the top mid-right of the net, past the Hawks goalkeeper. The celebration after the goal was the first time the Stallions showed real energy or excitement since the back-to-back goals that put them down 2-0 in the first half.

Barber commended the Stallions’ effort to keep competing despite the deficit they faced.

“That takes a lot when you’re down big at halftime and still to come out and compete and compete. And I mean, they were obviously still competing to put themselves in a spot to score that goal,” Barber said. “It’s good effort on their part, and obviously a team that’s well coached to be able to stay on task regardless of what the scoreboard says.”

Konieczny’s goal came against Highland’s backup goalkeeper, freshman Haley Bartel. Bartel relieved the starter, junior Ashlyn Lee, 10 minutes into the second half, inheriting a 6-0 lead.

Highland’s nine goals were well spread out. The only player with two goals was junior Sydney Menden who scored the Hawks’ second and fourth goals. Other goal scorers adding to the tally were Cullinan, freshman Erin O’Connor, sophomore Jaden Nelson, junior Kaleigh Backlund, senior Megan Dietz, senior Ari Moreno and junior Sarah Banks.

The goal of the day came from Nelson, when the sophomore bicycle kicked a loose ball into the net from five yards out.

It was no doubt a frustrating day for Shadow Ridge sophomore goalkeeper Logan White, who near constantly had the ball in her end during the 69 minutes of play Saturday. Despite allowing nine goals, White also recorded 10 saves on the day.

Both sides let backup players get some work in the second half. For Barber and Highland, it was a chance to get more work for bench players in case they’re needed deeper in the playoffs.

For Gray and Shadow Ridge, it was an opportunity to play JV players he expects to call up to varsity next year.

“I tried to get them in, get them a little exposure to the speed of the varsity game, especially against a team like this,” Gray said.

While Shadow Ridge has had a successful first two regular seasons in 6A, it’s been teams like Highland — high-ranked playoff teams — that have been a hurdle the Stallions can’t get over.

Gray said, alongside improving on fouling and fundamentals, his team will take the next step by scheduling tougher opponents in non-section play.

“We’re not in the strongest region, and that’s tough. We’ve got to play some tougher teams outside the region. We’ve got to play teams like this… We’ve got to play some of those tougher teams to elevate our level,” Gray said.

In two years in the 6A Southwest Section, Shadow Ridge has gone a combined 9-0-1, with seven of those nine wins coming by at least three goals. Gray mentioned they played No. 6 Chandler Basha in a tournament this year, a matchup Shadow Ridge won 1-0.

On top of Gray and his team’s efforts on the field, Gray said Shadow Ridge will improve in 6A as the community grows in population, bringing more students to the school, noting several housing developments are being built nearby.

“I think we’re just going to keep getting kids, you know. We’re going to get more and more to choose from. I’m hopeful for the future.”

Mark Carlisle
Associate Editor | Daily Independent
@mwcarlisle

mcarlisle@iniusa.org

Mark is passionate about accurately informing his readers to what is happening in their community. He also loves reading and writing about sports. Mark has worked for Independent Newsmedia for five years. He married his high school sweetheart, adopted a boxer mix, and awaits his first child.