Sunrise Mountain didn’t need a reminder.

Ironwood runs the Northwest Valley. Just in case anybody forgot. 

Sunrise Mountain walked in with a 12-0 record in Tuesday’s big Northwest Region boys soccer showdown and was ranked No. 3 in the 5A power rankings, right behind Ironwood. So there was intrigue, and a good showing of fans came to see if their Sunrise Mountain Mustangs could tame six-time state champ Ironwood for the first time.

But they’ll have to wait until next season or maybe during this season’s playoffs for another chance.

Ironwood's muscle and quickness helped it dictate the pace for most of the match during its 2-0 victory.

“They (Sunrise Mountain) are a great team," Ironwood coach Tim Beck said. "We are a great team. I think people seem to forget about us. We are below teams (in the rankings) we’ve already beaten. And I’m like ‘OK. Well that’s fine. It doesn’t really matter until the end.’

“But yeah. We are still here. We are still around. As long as I’m still around, we’ll still be around and hopefully it continues long after I’m gone. But it (the match) was good for the west side and for 5A soccer and good for high school soccer.”

Beck is in his 26th season as Ironwood’s coach.

This year, his team welcomed back some club reinforcements, forwards Ricardo Cardozo and Ernesto Osornio. The dynamic duo allowed Beck to plug some holes in the back, which is still a team strength.

Ironwood’s leading scorer last year, captain Gabe Guerrero, is now the team’s center back and Carter Rose, a forward last year, is now the team’s goalkeeper. Ironwood (10-1-1) has given up just seven goals.

Despite playing a tough team, Sunrise Mountain stayed in the match. Trailing 1-0 after halftime, Sunrise Mountain was the aggressor at the start of the second half, when it added an extra forward.

But Rose, Guerrero and their defense stood their ground. With about 15 minutes remaining, Ironwood responded immediately after one of its bench players was thrown out by the referee.

Cardozo knocked in a rebound off a blast outside the 18-yard box.

Junior Charlie Wingfield finished off a possession sequence, volleying in a Cardoza pass early in the first half for Ironwood’s first goal. The two goals were the first ones Sunrise Mountain allowed at home this season.

While Ironwood was able to string passes together, it was a different case for its opponent.

Sunrise Mountain played more long ball than it wanted against a taller and more physical team.

“It was just one of those nights,” Sunrise Mountain coach Bob Hossain said. “Our boys didn’t perform the way they normally perform. This is not how we play. Getting by Ironwood, mentally, is something that we need to get by, because Ironwood has a good reputation.”

Hossain has helped turn Sunrise Mountain into a soccer school in the past three seasons.

Two more victories this year and Hossain’s program will set a new record high in season victories.