Back-to-back: Perry defeats San Luis again in boys' 6A soccer championship rematch
Describing the AIA 6A boys soccer championship game as chaotic would be an understatement.
For the second year in a row, a resilient No. 4-seeded Gilbert Perry Pumas upset the No. 2 San Luis Sidewinders in the AIA 6A state championship game Saturday evening at Mesa High School. Perry and San Luis went at it all game, proving why they're two of the best teams in the state with their defense, as the game was tied 0-0 throughout regulation and through both overtimes.
Perry ultimately won in a penalty shootout, 4-2, with Tyler Haren sealing the deal with a shot to the left side of the net, fooling San Luis goalkeeper Nelson Berrelleza.
"It's unreal. It's great to be here, it's amazing," Perry head coach Jason Berg said. "The resilience for me is huge. I think that the belief, the entire game, regardless of the scoreline, regardless of how the game is being played, the boys believed that they could pull it out. We had guys play that haven't played for two or three games. Everyone stepped up and everyone was huge tonight."
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Carson Pridie proved why he is one of the best goalkeepers in the state with his elite defensive mechanisms throughout the night. Though he had 109 saves in the regular season, San Luis was able to challenge him all game. However, he remained calm.
In the tense shootout, Pridie was able to deliver his team to back-to-back titles.
"I mean, it all starts with the walk up. It's all a mental game," Pridie said. "There's best players in the world and they still miss penalties. There's so much that goes into it, the run-up kind of anticipation, the guessing, but at the end of the day, it worked out in our favor and we were able to make all of our penalties and put them away."
It was a heartbreaking finish for the Sidewinders, who again couldn't get over the hump. It was their fifth title attempt, third in the last four years, and they have fallen short every time after posting strong regular seasons.
San Luis players were in tears. Berrelleza was seen on the ground, head in his arms as Perry players ran across the field, celebrating with their teammates and surrounding family members. Before celebrating with his team, Berg went over to console the San Luis junior goalkeeper.
"I told him he had a hell of a season, made some great saves and there's nothing to be ashamed of," Perry head coach Jason Berg said. "I think that if you look at his goals against average, it's amazing."
It was not your typical high school soccer atmosphere. Both Perry and San Luis' fanbases were electric, with San Luis, a school from a small border community south of Yuma, nearly filling up their section of the stands. Sidewinder fans brought the heat, creating a raucous atmosphere with their Mexican flags and instruments. They even started the wave at one point.
Players on Perry's sideline were hollering all game, supporting each other even in tense situations. Just a testament to their team chemistry.
"Everybody has a role, even if they're not playing," Pridie said. "Everybody was in the game, keeping the energy up. No matter what, just keeping the energy high. It's kind of been our game all year ... keeping the pressure on, keeping the energy high. I'm trying to find words, but I can't."
For San Luis seniors, it was a moment of heartbreak for a team that boasts some of the best players in Arizona. But for Perry seniors, a moment of bliss. They had capped off their high school careers, some their entire soccer careers, with back-to-back state titles. Emotions were high and many tears were shed.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Perry defeats No. 2 San Luis to win second title
