Mesa HIgh's boys soccer team basks in the accomplishment of a second straight region title (AzPreps365 photo)

Mesa High coudn't get the upper hand on rival Mountain View Monday night in the first half of their region soccer match at Jackrabbit Stadium. Mesa coach T.J. Hagen was bordering on desperate at intermission of the 0-0 deadock at that point as the Jackrabbits needed a win to nail down a region title.

"Any region game, doesn't matter the sport, you can throw out the records," Hagen said. "I told them at half if we can't do it as a team then it's OK if someone carries us on their back." A bit of the latter ensued as the second half unfolded as senior forward Moises Durazo's goal set the tone for a three-goal half and a 3-0 victory over Mountain View. 

The win indeed clinched the 6A East Valley Region title for Mesa -- the second year in a row the Jackrabbits have outdistanced their Mesa-school counterparts for region title-bragging rights. it clinches an automatic berth to the play-in round that will be played on Thursday. Mesa still has a one regular season match to play -- Tuesday at home against No. 3 Chandler. Mesa has claimed city championships four of the last five years. A few of those years Mesa schools were not members of the same region.

Durazo, Tony Perez and Danny Lopez each scored a goal -- all of them 12 minutes apart in the second half. Mesa is 10-5-2 overall and finished region play 4-1. They can be tied for the top spot record-wise by either Red Mountain or Westwood, but by virtue of beating both teams head-to-head the Jackrabbits hold the tiebreaker. Mountain View finished 4-11 for the season and 0-5 in region.

Durazo's goal was a doozy and in part made his coach look good on his halftime plea. Durazo, the Jackrabbits' top scorer for the season, gained possession on the offensive end about 35 yards out and outmanuevered at least three defenders with zig-zagging precision. At eight yards out in the box he was one-on-one with Mountain View's keeper and tallied with a bullseye to the far post in the 46th minute.

"I was just trying to get to get something going," Durazo said. "We needed to win this game for the region, and hopefully it helps us get a better position in the playoffs."

At the 58-mnute mark Mesa scored its second goal with sophomore Tony Perez netting his from close range. Scoring concluded in the 70th minute thanks to a tally by senior Danny Lopez. Durazo and Lopez also had an assist each for their evening's work.

"The guys knew we needed a better effort in the second half," Hagen said. 'We played much better."

Mesa entered the match at No. 18 in the 6A power rankings. The region title doesn't guarantee it a home match in the play-in round just a berth. Mesa must finish 16th or higher in the power rankings to have a play-in home match. Cibola is currently No. 16 and Tucson High is No. 17 with matches left Tuesday.