By Don Ketchum

If it weren’t for the different numbers on the back of their jerseys, you probably couldn’t tell most of Phoenix Xavier Prep’s soccer players apart.

The Gators are pretty much interchangeable. They are that talented and that deep.

It was all on display Tuesday (Dec. 6) in the opening round of the Horizon Tournament of Champions at the Rose Mofford Sports Complex in Phoenix. Xavier cruised past Glendale Ironwood 9-0.

Play in the 20-team event continues Wednesday and Thursday at Rose Mofford, with the tournament shifting to Phoenix Horizon High for the semifinals on Friday and the championship matchup on Saturday.

Xavier (2-0) has a strong chance to be in the final.

The Gators, who finished as state runner-up to Chandler Hamilton in the old Class 5A Division I tournament last season, don’t appear to have many weaknesses.

“During these matches, we put a lot of focus on ourselves and what we are trying to accomplish. Not so much on the other teams,’’ said Xavier coach Barbara Chura.

She wants her team to be as consistent as possible with its style of play. And that is . . .

“We want to play on the ground, not in the air,’’ Chura said. “We want to see the ball well. We want to have numbers (of players) around the ball and on defense. Above all, we want to keep the ball, keep the ball, keep the ball. We emphasize that all the time.’’

Xavier’s star, at least on this day, was junior forward Michaela Dooley. She scored four goals, and freshman forward Tessa Zaccagnio had two.

“Michaela has come a long way,’’ Chura said. “She plays at the club level with some of the top players, and that has made her better.’’

There is a great deal of competition at Xavier practices because of the depth.

“It’s there every single day,’’  Chura said. “We are two or three deep at most positions. Those who played a lot last year won’t have as many minutes, but that is a good thing. It will allow them to stay fresh and ready to go.

“We just want to continue to work hard and get to that last game (for the state championship). We want to be the last one standing.’’