The Scorpions soccer players previewed their skills and talent Friday night, Nov. 16, and are preparing for the upcoming season.
The girls and boys soccer teams at Sedona Red Rock High School scrimmaged against the Coconino Panthers on Friday in front of a home crowd.
The teams didn’t keep score as the games were more of a warm-up to the season.
The Panthers girls got by the Scorpions a couple of times, but overall, the Scorpions showcased a strong defense and excellent teamwork. Senior Jill Bradshaw scored the only goal for the girls with an assist by senior Cassie Sanchez.
“It was very much a learning experience,” said Tom Cadigan, the girls head coach. “We were trying something new, and it took us a while but we’re getting used to it now. We have a compete new strategy, it’s exciting. It’s all going to fall together, I just know it.”
The team is playing with a different formation than last year. Cadigan said it’s like a flat four, a defense with four defenders playing straight across the back with no sweeper or stopper, and that they have played it before. It’s just tweaked.
“Since this is a new strategy, we have to work more as a unit,” Cadigan said. “Once we get that together, it will flow.”
The team features seven seniors who have played together for a long time. Cadigan believes they will all carry the team this season.
“It’s really our seniors who are holding us together,” Cadigan said. “Those girls have been playing together since they were probably 5 and kudos to all of the coaches out there who’ve been coaching them.”
Sanchez, Bradshaw, Marissa Surber, Meredith Woodford, Sierra Winters, Holly Drotzmann and Miah Lino are the seven seniors.
“Our seniors are the strengths but we have these newbies coming in, these new freshman coming in who are really good,” Cadigan said.
Along with Cadigan, Dan Surber, Paul Luna and Ryan Cadigan are coaching the girls.
The boys team lost seven seniors last year, but it had a bigger turnout during preseason.
“We had over 30 boys turn out this year,” Head Coach Cindy Hauserman said. “We have five seniors this year and a lot of very young talent. It’s a broad mix of talent this year.”
The boys showed a powerful
For the full story, please see the Wednesday, Nov. 21, issue of the Red Rock News.
