Corona del Sol forward Ryan Flood was open for business all evening as usual, but his only success for a long time was in the 14th minute of Tuesday's match with Highland. A rematch of a 2-2 tie the teams played to earlier this month.

Flood, who finished with a hat trick, and No. 4 seed Corona del Sol broke through offensively in the final 18 minutes to rally past No. 13 seed Highland, 4-2, in the first round of the 6A boys state soccer tournament at Corona's Hascall Henshaw Stadium.

Flood combined with teammate Tanner Pile to tally three goals in a four-minute stretch late in the second half to advance the Aztecs (17-1-2) to Saturday's quarterfinals against No. 5 Tolleson, a 3-2 winner over No. 12 Chandler. HIghland closed its season 8-8-1.

"Ryan's the kind of player that comes along every three or four years," Corona del Sol coach Dan Salas said. "A player you can't do anything about.  He's just better than everyone else."

Highland, led by midfielder Mason Keck's two goals, never trailed until Flood scored his second goal of the night in the 67th minute for a 3-2 advantage. Flood let fly an onslaught of shots late in the first half and throughout the second, but more often than not Highland keeper Kyle Pullin denied them. Keck's second goal, on a rebound of his own miss, had Highland up 2-1 with 18 minutes left.

A minute later Corona thought it had tied the game on a header by Austin Delaney, but it was disallowed for a pushoff. 

Not deflated by that call, Pile tallied in the 66th minute and Flood a minute later. Flood capped his fourth hat trick of the season nad seventh mult-goal game with a free-kick winner from 35 yards out in the 70th minute.

"You can't let that kid get unleashed," Highland coach Rich Esperti said "He's a difference maker. Plays at a different level. He took over the game the last 18 minutes."

Esperti applauded his team for their effort and lamented two chances before Corona's late charge that might have put the Hawks up 3-1.

"We got to two playoff games, battled all season," Esperti said.