Cougars earn spot in final vs. Aggies

Coronado needed 236 minutes to score its first goal against Silverado this season. The Cougars needed only six more to score the one that mattered most.

Nearly shut out by the Skyhawks for the third straight time, Coronado tied the score late in regulation and scored the winner in the second minute of overtime to stun Silverado 2-1 in the Sunrise Region final at Bettye Wilson Park.

The Cougars (15-2-3) earned a trip to the Class 4A Southern Nevada championship game, in which it will play Sunset champion Arbor View (17-1-1) at 4 p.m. Thursday at Wilson Park.

Sophomore Breanna Robinson scored the winning goal, getting just enough on a shot that trickled inside the left post.

"I just fought for the ball," said Robinson, who was about 10 yards from the net when she picked up a pass from Melissa Subu. "We knew this might be our last chance."

Coronado trailed 1-0 with time running out despite holding a huge territorial edge against the Skyhawks (15-3-1).

"It was a little bit frustrating," Cougars coach Dana Neel said. "We had to just keep taking shots and it will eventually go in. I just told them we needed to keep our heads up."

Coronado peppered Silverado goalkeeper Samantha Lewis with eight shots on goal in the second half before finally scoring with four minutes remaining. Leticia Lopez's free kick was stopped by Lewis, then deflected off three players before being redirected into the net by sophomore Kymberly Buset.

Silverado scored in the opening minute when Rachel Cooklin's spinning shot from just outside the box short-hopped Coronado goalkeeper Kaitlyn Fahrner and deflected in off Fahrner's right arm.

SUNSET REGION

Arbor View goalkeeper Alex Luevano-Harden entered the Sunset Region final with 12 shutouts this season.

Make it a baker's dozen, and the 13th was the sweetest of all for the senior.

The Aggies scored twice in the first 10 minutes and went on to blank Northwest League rival Palo Verde 2-0 at Bettye Wilson Park.

Arbor View has a chance to win its first Southern Nevada championship.

"It feels amazing, absolutely amazing," said Luevano-Harden, who made six saves. "We've been waiting for this day forever, with the past and everything. It still hasn't sunk in. We played our hearts out, and I'm so excited to play with this group of girls. I'm really proud of all of them."

McKenzie Karas scored two minutes into the match, redirecting a rebound past Palo Verde goalkeeper Stacie Gubler from inside the box.

Bianca Norman added a goal in the 10th minute, picking up a pass from Tori Rodriguez on the right sideline, cruising to the center and blasting a right-footed shot into the back of the net.

"We have been starting early all tournament, and that really makes a big difference in the flow of the game and the morale," Arbor View coach Jay Howard said. "Palo Verde came back; I felt like it was a really good game, back and forth."

Arbor View outshot the Panthers 11-8 during a first half in which both teams had multiple scoring chances. Six of the Aggies' 11 shots were on goal.

Palo Verde (16-2-2) came out of the break by forcing three quick shots, but the Aggies' defense held up.

Contact reporter Bartt Davis at bdavis@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5230.