By Don Ketchum

Wolfgang Weber has had 30 seasons of coaching high school boys’ soccer, most of them at Tucson Salpointe Catholic, and he says, “Each one has been a delight.’’

The Lancers completed another memorable year on Saturday (Feb. 11) by capturing the first Division II championship with a 3-0 victory over Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep at Gilbert Campo Verde High.

It was the fifth title for Weber and eighth time in the championship match.

“It’s a crowning achievement for the players,’’ he said.

Seventh-seeded Salpointe jumped on fifth-seeded Notre Dame early, just 1:14 into the match when Christian Garcia deflected a long free kick into the net.

The Lancers scored two more times, on a goal by Emilio Villatoro with 9:41 left in the match, and on a header by Arturo Vega with 4:52 left.

The game was blemished with the handing out of 10 cards, including two reds against a frustrated Notre Dame crew in the second half.

“It was a very strong Notre Dame team. They were physically bigger than us,’’ Weber said.

Despite the early goal, Weber said that early on, his team’s rhythm was off. But the Lancers gradually got in sync.

“We did a great job working for our opportunities,’’ Weber said.

Senior Estevan Romero got the start in goal and did a solid job. His height of 6-feet, 2 –inches came in handy on more than one occasion, allowing him to deflect shots by the Saints.

According to Weber, his team finished the season with 119 goals scored and only 15 against.

“There’s no issue there,’’ he said.