Mesa High has played a significant part in state athletics with its long history and tradition. Football, basketball and wrestling have been highly successful sports to name a few. A sport to be honored Tuesday night is one the school helped play a role in inaugurating in the state three decades ago -- boys soccer.

The Xavier soccer team endured another tough time at the Excaliber Tournament in Santa Ana, Calif., during the recent holiday break. The results of the tournament for two-time defending state champ Xavier was three losses in three games, but the results didn\\\'t bother coach Barb Chura.

Controlled possession approach has served girls soccer team well.

Corona del Sol girls soccer coach Matt Smith had a pretty fair summation of the Aztecs Central Region matchup with Mesquite.

Team was atop power-points list in Class 4A Division II entering the first week of 2011.

The Hamilton girls soccer team ended the 2010 portion of the 2010-2011 season with two invitational titles. Hamilton won the Diablo Classic three weeks ago. And the latest was acquired Friday morning with the Huskies 3-0 victory over Flagstaff to win the Dobson Mustang Soccer Classic at Dobson High.

Sixteen girls teams and 14 boys squads invade Mesa Monday through New Years Eve Day for the 2010 Dobson Mustang Soccer Classic at Red Mountain Park and Dobson High School.

Hamilton fell just short of taking the 5A-I boys soccer title last year, dropping a 1-0 decision to Corona del Sol in the final. The Huskies were eliminated in the 5A-I semifinals on the girls side. If the start of the 2010-2011 season is any indication, both programs are aiming at another shot at a state title come February.

The pressure is off a bit but the competition will be fierce today through Saturday at the annual Diablo Soccer Tournament at the Tempe Sports Complex. Twenty boys teams and 16 girls teams lineup for at least three games and as many as six. Games do not\\\'t count in the power-point rankings so that does not play with the minds of coaches, but teams want to prevail just the same as it gives an early indication of where the power may be, particularly in 5A-I.

Both groups have won five state crowns since 2001-02.