SUNRISE GIRLS SOCCER: Zurflueh’s shot helps Cougars grab momentum, top Gators

Chynna Zurflueh couldn’t have grabbed a soccer ball and tossed it off the goal post any better.

With her team down an early goal and in need of some momentum, the Coronado junior moved in on the right wing and fired a shot that kissed the left post and ricocheted into the net.

It wrestled back momentum for the Cougars, who went on for a 2-1 win over Green Valley in the Sunrise Region final at Heritage Park on Saturday.

Coronado (15-1-4) advances to the Division I state tournament, which begins Friday in Carson City.

“It felt good coming off my foot,” Zurflueh said. “Their goalie is extremely good. I play against her all the time. In order to have a chance against her, you have to have a really solid shot. It just felt good.”

Zurflueh’s shot hit the post about three feet off the ground and deflected perfectly into the net to tie the match in the 19th.

Just five minutes later, teammate Michaela Morris took a long lead pass from Abby Brown and beat the Gator defense before poking the ball past goalkeeper Kiyana Lopez to give the Cougars the lead for good. Brown assisted on both Coronado goals.

“Our speed is a huge weapon for us,” Coronado coach Dana Neel said. “It’s not our only method of attack, but if it’s working for us, it’s what we’re going to go to.”

Green Valley (14-3-5) took the early lead on a 35-yard free kick by Jessica Messer. Coronado goalkeeper Rachel Morris appeared to mishandle the ball, which hit her in the arms before rolling into the net.

“It was really important to get the momentum back,” Zurflueh said. “We needed to get back in the game.”

Messer nearly tied the match early in the second half on a 40-yard free kick that bounced and scraped the crossbar before hopping out of play.

Green Valley had a handful of chances in the final 20 minutes, but Coronado’s Erin Heenan made three saves in a relief effort to maintain the one-goal lead.

Coronado hadn’t won a region title since the 2010 winter season.

“It feels good,” Neel said. “You plan for this the whole year, and you know you have the strongest team. It’s fun to prove it.”