Title game gets blown away

Centennial and Green Valley will have to wait a few more days to decide the Southern Nevada girls soccer championship.

The teams, scheduled to meet Wednesday night, had their match at Bettye Wilson Park postponed because of high winds.

The match was tentatively rescheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, but an official announcement isn't expected until today.

Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association officials met with game officials, Green Valley coach William Naftaly and Centennial coach Bernie Preston after the goal on the north end of the field toppled over in a wind gust.

Soccer goals typically weigh more than 150 pounds, with little surface area.

"These are the two best teams. You want to see good soccer," Naftaly said. "I agree with the refs and the NIAA officials. The net blew off, and (the goal) could have smacked one of the players."

A National Weather Service representative said wind gusts in excess of 50 mph were recorded at several sensors in Las Vegas, including a 59 mph gust at the North Las Vegas airport, near the time when the match was called.

Centennial finished its warm-up on the north end of the field just moments before the goal fell. Team captains were meeting with the game officials in the center of the field at the time.

Both teams had all sorts of trouble trying to control balls in the warm-up. The high winds made normally routine passes, throw-ins and corner kicks look silly.

"The game shouldn't be determined because of the elements," Naftaly said.

Still, game officials seemed prepared to play the game until the coaches and NIAA agreed to postpone it.

"I don't think it would have been that bad, but when the goal started flipping, people are put in danger," Preston said.

Several fans left the field upset that the game wasn't being played and that no refunds were being offered to spectators.

An NIAA official said when the match is played, there will be no admission charge.