Old Pueblo Soccer Classic

Udall Park: Oct. 4-5

 

Six of the top ten teams in the state were in Tucson this past Friday and Saturday to take part in the Old Pueblo Classic hosted by Desert Christian. Even better, the top four ranked teams were in the field, including No. 1 Blue Ridge and No. 2 Chino Valley, and the two clashed Saturday morning.

Blue Ridge improved to 17-0 overall with wins over No. 6 Willcox, No 10 Benson, No. 13 Page, and a close win over Chino Valley.

Blue Ridge standout senior Tommy Pederson came into the Classic with 31 goals on the year but a goal from fellow senior Kaden Brimhall proved the difference in the 1-0 victory. Brimhall came in with 19 goals on the year.

The Yellow Jackets have not updated stats from the Classic but it appears Pederson has a shot to be somewhere near the top five nationally in goals scored at his average at 2.6 goals per match. Pederson finished tops in the nation last year with 69 goals scored and his career total sits at 124.

Chino Valley is now 10-1 overall and the Cougars will visit No. 18 Rancho Solano Prep (2-5) on Oct. 9 and the Yellow Jackets will host No. 17 Holbrook (6-9-1) on the same day.

The state tournament is scheduled to start on Wednesday, Oct. 30 with the championship slated for Saturday, Nov. 2.  Eight teams will be in the championship field with three automatic qualifiers from each of the three regions and the remaining five will be determined by ranking.

Phoenix Country Day took it all in 2017 and 2018 but the Eagles moved up to the 3A Conference this year and will compete in the winter season. Chino Valley took second last year and Phoenix Country Day beat Blue Ridge to win the 2017 championship.

Chino Valley beat Blue Ridge four years in a row from 2013 to 2016 to claim those 2A state championships. Prior to that streak, Blue Ridge won from 2009 to 2012 against a variety of opponents. In all, Blue Ridge has nine state championships and Chino Valley has six dating back to 2000.