By Don Ketchum

Phoenix Carl Hayden boys soccer coach Abner Calderon insisted that it was just another game, “beat the team we need to beat’’ in the first round of the Division I tournament.

But when the opponent was Glendale Ironwood, a traditional powerhouse that won the Class 5A Division II title last season, Tuesday’s (Jan. 31) 3-0 victory at Phoenix Maryvale had to mean a bit more.

Ironwood was the fifth seed. Carl Hayden advances to Saturday’s (Feb. 4) second round as the No. 12 seed. The Falcons will play either No. 13 Avondale Westview or No. 4 Chandler Hamilton.

“We had a good practice yesterday (Monday). We didn’t really scrimmage. We just went out and had fun,’’ Calderon said.

On what advice he gave his players before the Ironwood game, he said, “It wasn’t about playing Ironwood. I just told them to go out and have fun, play with passion, for the love of the game, and enjoy it. That’s what we have tried to do all season.’’

Carl Hayden played with precision, power and passion.

Senior Amado Sanchez, a four-year player, scored the team’s first goal with 16:23 left in the first half. The Ironwood goalkeeper came toward Sanchez a bit, and he lofted the ball softly over the keeper’s head and into the net.

“Amado is a finesse player, a mature player,’’ Calderon said. “He has that experience. You would expect any other player to miss that shot.’’

Sanchez’s precision was complemented by two power-type goals. Danny Gonzales drilled a shot with his left foot to make it 2-0 with 35:35 left in the second half, and Ramon Sambrano put some heat on a rebound of a deflected header to make it 3-0 with 6:21.

And there was the passion of Carl Hayden keeper William Rivera. He was aggressive, diving all over the place. On one occasion, he was too aggressive, charging an Ironwood player far from the goal along the sideline and receiving a first-half yellow card.

Perhaps Rivera is trying to make up for some lost time after leaving last year’s quarterfinal game against Scottsdale Chaparral with an injury on the first play of the game.

“He plays with a lot of energy,’’ Calderon said.

Carl Hayden will need a lot more energy if it is to advance beyond the next round.