Hamilton boys, girls win titles at Diablo Soccer Classic
December 11, 2010 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365
Hamilton fell just short of taking the 5A-I boys soccer title last year, dropping a 1-0 decision to Corona del Sol in the final. The Huskies were eliminated in the 5A-I quarterfinals on the girls side.
If the start of the 2010-2011 season is any indication, both programs are aiming at another shot at a state title come February.
Both qualified for Saturday's finals at the annual Diablo Soccer Classic. Hamilton's girls scored four first-half goals and cruised to a 5-0 victory over Mountain Pointe. Hamilton's boys didn't get off to nearly the rousing start the girls did, but tallied three times in the second half to defeat Mountain Pointe, 3-0.
It's the first time Hamilton's boys or girls soccer teams have won the Diablo Classic. And both see as a stepping stone to bigger things as the season progresses.'
"This is my fourth year and (Hamilton girls coach) Jason's (Thompson) fourth year," Hamilton boys coach Nick Markette said. "We revamped the entire system here. Wear the same uniforms, same logos. It's starting to pay dividends."
If fans missed the first 10 minutes of the girls final, they missed most of the scoring. Hamilton's Samantha Weiss scored in the game's first minute, Rylie Johnson a couple minutes later and Weiss again six minutes into the contest for a 3-0 Huskies' lead.
"Getting up that quick was very unexpected," Thompson said. "It was surprising. I'm very pleased the way we played in the entire tournament. The credit goes to the girls. We used 23 to 25 of them and we got oustanding efforrts from all of them."
Megan Harder added a penaltuly kick for Hamilton to close out the first half scoring. Makenna Johnson tallied on a PK in the second half for the game's final goal. The Hamilton girls are now 8-0 on the season. They've scored 32 goals and allowed just one.
Hamilton's boys improved to 6-0-1 on the season and had a little tougher match on their hands. Thanks to three or four outstanding saves in the first half by Mountain Pointe keeper Kevin Kadisak, the Huskies and Pride played to a scoreless tie the first 40 minutes.
About 11 minutes into the second half, Hamilton's Steven Sutherland got loose inside the goal box just to the left of the goal, a defender and Kadisak. He fought past the keeper and then spun past Kadisak, who fell trying for a save. Sutherland then found the right corner of the net for a 1-0 lead.
Hamilton added two more goals --both by Bryan Suarez - the first in the 63rd minute and the final goal in the 70th minute on a header. Suarez, Sutherland and Blas Minor each had an assist for the Huskies.
Hamilton's boys allowed just two goals in the tournament and their only blemish was a 1-1 tie with Chaparral in pool play.