Chaparral is in the hunt to defend its 6A girls soccer title and win a fourth consecutive crown when adding the 2017 and 2018 5A championships. Highland and Desert Vista would like to imitate ulltimate success each has produced recently as state champions - Desert Vista the 6A title in 2016 and Highland the 6A title in 2015. Hamilton hopes to break through to the final in its third consecutive trip to the semifinals.

The 2020 semifinals are down to those four. The matchups on Saturday Feb. 22 are #1 Chaparral and #4 Desert Vista at 11 a.m. followed by #3 Highland and #7 Hamilton at 1 p.m. Both games are at Campo Verde HS. The winners meet for the championship on Wednesday Feb. 26 at 5 p.m. at Campo Verde HS.

 Here's a breakdown of the semifinal matchups:

#3 HIGHLAND VS. #7 HAMILTON

How they got here: Highland defeated Shadow Ridge, 9-1,  in the 1st round and Basha, 2-0, in the quarterfinals. Hamilton  beat Queen Creek, 6-0, in the first round and Perry, 0-0. (3-1 in PKs), in the quarterfinals.

Regular season meeting: None.

Highland (15-5-1): The Hawks are riding a nine-game winning streak. Players who have stepped up with strong performances and leadership are senior defender and captain Vivian Roberts and junior defender and captain Madison Cullinan. Highland has allowed 19 goals in 20 games. Stat leaders are junior Kaleigh Backlund (16 goals, 9 assists), Camryn Patten (7 G, 6A), Kylee Holstad (7G, 3A) and Moriel Villicana (4 G, 8A). The Hawks have relied on strong defense and an offense that's figured out how to play with each other. It's a young team that has matured faster than expected, according to coach Andy Barber. Highland won the Central Region outbattling Desert Vista for the top spot with a 5-0 region mark. Three of the region wins were by one goal.

Hamilton (16-3-3):  The Huskies are led by senior captains - defenders Ari Fresquez and Paisley Teele, who's ability to stifle opposition attacks has lead the team to 14 shutouts and a state leading seven goals against on the year. The team is led on the attack by seniors Jayna Vorwerk, Gabby Gruenewald, Sydney Stones and junior forward Mia Zubiate. Gruenewald, Stones and Zubiate pace the Huskies with 8 goals apiece. Zubiate is the assists leaders with 10. Goalkeeper Asia Hart is at the back end of the defense for a team giving up less than .5 goals per game. The past five years have seen Hamilton play in one final, three semifinals and a quarterfinal. Two of the losses have been via PKs and three season-ending losses were to the eventual state champion.

 

#4 DESERT VISTA VS. #1 CHAPARRAL

How they got here: Desert Vista defeated  Mountain Pointe, 1-0, in the first round and Pinnacle, 0-0, in the quarterfinals. Chaparral beat Sandra Day O'Connor, 4-0, in the first round and Red Mountain, 5-1, in the quarterfinals.

Regular season meeting: None.

Desert Vista (13-3-3):  The Thunder are led by seniors Cammi Bych, Cassi Bych, defender Audra Sumetz and junior midfielder Emma Green. The Bych's are headed to the Air Force Academy after graduation. Cammi Bych is one of the top goalkeepers in the state, according to coach Marvin Hypolite. Cassi Bych leads Desert Vista in scoring with 19 goals. Sumetz is the team's best defender. The speedy Green has six goals and eight assists. Desert Vista has played in four state title games in the last eight years, winning one and finishing runner-up three times. Defense is the team's calling card, having allowed 11 goals in 19 games.  

Chaparral (19-1-3):  A strong senior class (eight  - five of whom have played varsity since their freshman year -- have three championships in as many trips to the finals. The senior captains are forward Isabella Struckman, forward Madison Liebman, defender Hailey Schmitt, midfielder Kelly Hitchcock and forward Chloe Steinhilber. Steinhilber is one of four players with double-digit goals this season (13) and leads the Firebirds in assists with 12. Struckman has 17 goals, freshman Sami Fisher (14) and Liebman (13).

 

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