In a game featuring teams with contrasting styles of play, Desert Vista wound up beating Gilbert at its own game.

Gilbert’s blue-collar approach sometimes leads to some rough play but also success. But on Saturday, Desert Vista’s well-skilled team also brought its lunch pails and hard hats.

Things that are expected from Gilbert, a set piece goal and a hustle play that led to another goal, helped Desert Vista set the tone early in the first half of this Division I boys state quarterfinal match. Desert Vista used its technical ability to secure another goal in the first half to help it advance to the state semifinals with a 3-0 home win.

The first goal came courtesy of a player with a strong family tradition of helping Desert Vista advance far in state tournaments. Sophomore Tate Schmitt’s direct kick from the right of the 18-yard box bounced twice before going, just six minutes into the match.

That goal settled Desert Vista’s nerves, Desert Vista coach Michael Rabasca said. Another player with a last name that has strong ties to Desert Vista’s soccer program, Danny Gavin, set up his team’s second goal after accurately sending a long pass to Nicholas Mangialardi in the 25^th minute.

Mangialardi then worked the ball into open space inside the box before using his left foot to loft the ball over the goalkeeper and into the far side of the net. But it was during the third goal that showed just how much Desert Vista wanted this match.

On that play, a Gilbert defender followed a pass that was sent back to Gilbert’s goalkeeper. But before the ball reached the rushing goalkeeper, Mangialardi stuck his left foot out after passing the defender and struck the ball just enough to get it by the goalkeeper.

That scoring play in the 31^st minute left the defender and goalkeeper questioning what just happened as Mangialardi celebrated with his teammates on their sideline. Mangialardi, a junior, has scored five goals in the state tournament so far.

“It (third goal) is nice, because Gilbert is a very hard working team, so I think that send a pretty strong message to a hard working team,” Rabasca said.

The second half was highlighted by the chippiness that carried over from the first half.

With 3:50 remaining in the first half, three yellow cards were handed out, including two to Desert Vista, during incidents that took place on the different halves of the field.

Gilbert, a state quarterfinalist the past 11 seasons, received two more yellow cards in the second half. And Desert Vista’s short but athletic goalkeeper, Timothy O’Brien, was knocked down after he and a Gilbert player collided while going for a ball late in the second half.

It’s a good thing O’Brien wore protective headgear during this physical battle. Desert Vista will face another strong program, San Luis, a 2-0 winner over Corona del Sol in the quarterfinals, at Campo Verde on Thursday.

This is the sixth time Desert Vista (17-4) has reached a state semifinal since Rabasca took over in 1998.

Home cooking also works for Desert Vista girls

One of the top teams in the Division I girls state tournament, Desert Vista, also advanced to the semifinals.

The Desert Vista girls played before the school’s boys team took the field on Saturday. The girls coach for Desert Vista, Marvin Hypolite, was happy his team advanced to the semifinals, but he wasn’t too pleased with the way his team played during its 1-0 win over Kofa.

“You are not going to have a pretty win all of the time,” Hypolite said. “I’m more excited about the win than the style of play.”

Speedy freshman forward Tatum Heeres used a through pass in the first half to breakaway from two defenders before scoring the only goal of this game.

It was Heeres’ 12^th goal of the year. Desert Vista will play Highland Wednesday at Campo Verde.