SUNRISE REGION: Attacking style leads Jaguars to crown

Desert Pines easily could have been overcome with frustration in the first half.

Just two minutes before halftime, the Jaguars’ all-out attacking offense had produced seven offsides and a handful of other missed opportunities.

And suddenly, it all clicked.

The Jaguars scored three goals in the span of 14 minutes, turning a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 win over Del Sol and the school’s first Sunrise Region soccer title.

Desert Pines (14-3-3) advances to the state semifinals Friday at Bettye Wilson Park.

“We never stay back,” Desert Pines coach Judas Perez said. “We hate surprises. Our thing is to attack.”

The Jaguars spent most of the match attacking in waves, but had nothing to show for it until the 39th minute.

With Del Sol (13-5-2) leading 1-0, Desert Pines’ Cruz Cortes took possession near midfield and worked the ball up the left side. A quick touch pass from Randal Valazquez set up Victor Favela for a tap-in on the right side, squaring the match and giving the Jaguars momentum heading into halftime.

It didn’t take long for Desert Pines to go for the jugular.

Seven minutes into the second half, Valazquez grabbed a loose ball, worked through traffic on the right side and blistered a low shot inside the left post.

Five minutes later, Ruben Arzola headed in a corner kick by Francisco Lopez to make it 3-1.

“We have a lot of speed,” Favela said. “Our forwards, our midfield just has true speed. We wanted to attack with speed, and it all worked out.”

The Jaguars had chances to widen the lead but were called for another six offsides and had three shots go over the crossbar in the second half.

Limited to an occasional counterattack until falling into the two-goal deficit, Del Sol had a great chance to score midway through the second half. Jesse Romero’s free kick hit the underside of the crossbar, and a quick rebound was stoned by Desert Pines goalie Angel Guzman.

The Dragons’ lone goal came on Yefri Rodriguez’s 40-yard shot that curled under the crossbar midway through the first half.