An evening of lightning and rain intervened to delay the crowning of 5A San Tan Region boys and girls soccer champs on Monday night.

Casteel might say it was it was worth the wait.

The host Colts rallied for a 3-3 overtime tie with defending region champ Campo Verde in the boys game. The girls followed and claimed theirs outright with a 2-0 triumph on the final day of regular season matches at Joel Wirth Stadium.

The boys contest had a little bit of everything. Campo Verde bolted to a 2-0 lead in the first 16 minutes on a pair of nifty goals by Jorge Chavez. Those were the only two shots Campo Verde could muster in the opening half.

Campo Verde maintained the 2-0 lead early in the second half when lightning flashed causing a 45-minute stop in play. The teams resumed action with 31 minutes to go. Casteel finally netted its first goal in the 64th minute. The Colts liked it so much they added the tying goal three minutes later. The goals were credited to Jake Calimpong and Kaden Cameron, respectively. 

With less than 10 minutes left in regulation it looked as if Casteel would take a 3-2 lead, but Campo Verde keeper Jacob Zimmerman deflected a shot in the box just enough for it to go wide right. The game headed to overtime. 

And in the first overtime and 88th minute Casteel's Dillon Crowder put Casteel ahead for the only time. But Campo Verde, who managed only three shots in the second half plus overtime, made another of its few shots count as Jarred Smith made it 3-3 after the first ovetime - with only two seconds on he clock.

Campo Verde had a chance to retake the lead in the 92nd minute - awarded a penalty kickf or foul in the box.  The PK was attempted by the Coyotes' Gavin Saydyk, but as happened in December in the semifinals of the  Coyote Classic between the teams, Casteel keeper Kyan Cameron made the save. The tie when the 100th minute ended meant region title to Casteel with a 4-0-1 record to Campo's 3-0-2. 

"You had to applaud the two goals they scored," Casteel coach Greg Lanman said. "It's a huge step forward for our program given what Campo Verde has been able to do the last few years." 

Casteel finishes the regular season 15-4-2 while Campo ends up 11-5-3. The teams entered play Monday ranked seventh and eighth, respectively, in the 5A power rankings. Finishing in the top eight affords those teams an automatic berth to state. Team 9-24 must play a play-in game come Thursday to qualify for state. The final rankings will be posted Tuesday by noon and the play-in game matches set.

The Casteel girls received goals from junior Scarlett Frohardt and freshman Nathalie Lewis in the victory over Campo Verde. Frohardt scored in the sixth minute via penalty kick, awarded for hand foul in the box. The insurance goal came on a breakaway in the 59th minute. Casteel (12-2-1, 5-0 region) was No. 3 in the power rankings on Monday while Campo Verde (13-5-1, 4-1) was No. 1 and unbeaten in power-ranking matches.