Montoya gives Tech historic victory

Tech's girls soccer team spent the better part of 40 minutes looking like a team playing in only the second playoff game in program history.

It took Rachael Montoya just two minutes after halftime to make the Roadrunners look like they belonged.

Montoya scored in the 42nd minute, and goalkeeper Susan Melian made it stand up as Tech edged Las Vegas High 1-0 for the Roadrunners' first-ever win at the Sunrise Region tournament Tuesday at Bettye Wilson Park.

"I just got my nerves and had to play my game," Montoya said. "I let everything go how it was planned.

"Once you get that momentum, you want to be the first team to advance to the second round."

The decisive play started with Liz Arres passing to Montoya near midfield. The junior striker took the ball and scurried down the center, breaking several tackles before sending the ball into the roof of the net and the Roadrunners (11-5-3) into the semifinals.

Tech will play Green Valley at 6 p.m. Thursday.

The Wildcats (11-4-4) dominated possession, outshooting the Roadrunners 11-6.

Melian, a sophomore who took over in goal midway through the season, made six saves to get the shutout, including one on a free kick in the 35th minute and a diving save among several Las Vegas chances two minutes before the final whistle.

"Defensively, I guess it's just a new mindset," said Tech coach Josh Jones, whose team has won seven of its last eight. "But we've done excellently since we've put (Melian) in goal. We had some girls that were hurting, and we're finally coming together as a team to what we knew we were capable of."

■ Green Valley 5, Desert Pines 0 -- Kayla Varner had a goal and two assists to help the Gators (14-6-1) rout the Jaguars (8-8-1).

Cassidy McLean, Emily Gary, Paulena Buskas and Alex Adams also scored for Green Valley, which led 2-0 at halftime.

Hailey Beekman picked up the one-save shutout.

■ Coronado 1, Eldorado 0 -- Breanna Robinson scored eight minutes before the final whistle to help the Cougars (11-4-4) edge the Sundevils (9-5-4).

Kaitlyn Fahrner recorded the shutout.

Coronado will meet Rancho in the semifinals at 4 p.m. Thursday.

■ Rancho 3, Liberty 0 -- Antoinette Scott-Coles scored the opening goal 12 minutes into the match, leading the Rams (11-4-5) past the Patriots (9-4-4).

Megan Aoyama and Hannah Hanselman also scored for Rancho, which was outshot 9-6.

Rachael Wiltshire got the shutout with four saves.

SUNSET REGION

Allie Arguello and Haley Wingender have connected on plenty of goals for Bishop Gorman's girls soccer team this season.

None was bigger than Tuesday's.

Wingender scored on a header off a corner kick from Arguello in the 31st minute, and Gorman held on for a 1-0 victory over Shadow Ridge in a Sunset Region quarterfinal at Bettye Wilson Park.

"I just know Allie's got a great left foot," Wingender said. "I knew I had to get up and get that header because no one else was around me. I just jumped as high as I could to get it."

Southwest League champion Gorman (15-3-1) advanced to meet Northwest No. 2 seed Arbor View (14-2-2) in a semifinal at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Wingender, a junior forward, scored her team-leading 30th goal of the season.

"She's worked her butt off this year," Gaels coach Lora Feely said. "Coming in with other teams knowing what kind of player she is, she had marking on her, but she worked hard. It doesn't matter what kind of goal she's getting; she's putting it in the back of the net."

Kaylee Vitale posted a two-save shutout.

Freshman Dallas Gunny made nine saves for the Mustangs, who went 7-0-2 down the stretch to reach the playoffs.

■ Arbor View 2, Spring Valley 0 -- Lauren Shadel scored on a two-touch shot off an assist from Katelyn Louranco in the 25th minute, and the Aggies held on to beat the Grizzlies (10-8).

Tori Rodriguez scored on an assist from Amberly Halstead with less than 10 minutes left.

Kyla Salazar made seven saves in the shutout.

■ Centennial 7, Clark 0 -- Siena Drizin scored twice in the first 22 minutes to help the Bulldogs (15-3-1) build a 4-0 halftime lead in a rout of the Chargers (15-8).

Centennial will meet Northwest champion and rival Palo Verde (18-2-3) in the semifinals at 4 p.m. Thursday.

Bethanie Skelton, Jordan Sgro, Rebecca Espinoza, Danielle Farano and Shannell McDonnell also scored for the Bulldogs.

Emily Murzinski posted a one-save shutout.

■ Palo Verde 9, Bonanza 0 -- Sila Tuiofea scored four first-half goals, and Lauren Kaskie finished with two goals and four assists to help the Northwest champion Panthers eliminate the Bengals (7-8).

Alyssa Kleiner, Alexa D'Acunto and Jordan Fleming also scored for Palo Verde, which led 6-0 at halftime.

Stacie Gubler made five saves in the shutout.