Only two goals were scored Friday night as Mesa High and Red Mountain battled for first place or a share of it in the 6A East Valley Region boys soccer chase.

They clashed for 100 minutes and settled for a 1-1 overtime tie to finish up a week of Soccer Night at Red Mountain Park for Mesa Public Schools high school squads. Mesa and Red Mountain remain tied in the region -- but for second place.

That's because tri-region leader heading into matches Friday - Westwood - is now alone atop the region at 3-0 after beating Skyline, 5-2. Red Mountain and Mesa are 2-0-1. Westwood's final two matches of the season are next week at Mesa on Tuesday and home against Red Mountain next Thursday.

Mesa (9-5-3 overall) and ranked No. 17 in the most recent power rankings, won the first half mainly because it scored the first goal and controlled play a bit more. Senior defender and one of the Jackrabbits' four captains Juan Alcala blasted home the goal from just inside midfield on a free kick. Red Mountain freshman keeper Nico Drake was out a bit too high and the ball deflected through his hands and continued on into the net in the 27th minute. 

The second half belonged handily to No. 8 Red Mountain with the Mountain Lions securing a bunch of scoring chances. Like a slow drip from a faucet the chances got more numerous and closer to goals as the half advanced One finally went in in the 75th minute. Senior midfielder Couguar Lyman knocked it in off a corner that had players flying all around and into the net.

Both teams had chances in the two 10-minute overtimes with the best one coming from Red Mountain in the final seconds of the first overtime. Midfielder Jimmy Koufadakis ripped a shot from about 25 yards out that hit the crossbar and bounded away.

Neither coach -- Mesa's TJ Hagen and Red Mountain's Mike Miller -- were disconsolate over the tie.

"I don't think either goal was a quality goal, but that's what we got," Hagen said. "I'm proud of our boys. Red Mountain's been one of the higher scoring teams this season and to only allow one goal by them was pretty good."

Miller began to wonder as time wound down in regulation whether or not the Mountain Lions would get on the board. 

"We were a little tentative too often, but we played a strong second half," Miller said. "I'd have liked to seen us take a few more shots from outside the 18. We got the tie and unfortunately our best shot of overtime just missed. We'll see what plays out for all of us next week."