The rivalry between Sedona Red Rock and Mingus Union high schools took a turn for the intense Wednesday, Feb. 4, in the first round of the Division III boys soccer playoffs.

In the first playoff appearance for SRRHS [7-4-1] in five years, Scorpions junior goalkeeper Daniel Ruiz and a hustling defense, led by senior Mason Bradshaw, held the Marauders to one goal on their home field until he and left end Nick Hambrick were pulled with 19 seconds to play.

“We had the game,” Ruiz said. “They were going to shut down and we were going to get into their heads. But it didn’t happen.”

At least, those were his thoughts after shutting down two point-blank looks from Marauders junior Daniel Pallares off a penalty kick and a corner kick in the game’s first 8:30.

“He’s incredible,” head coach Cindy Hauserman said. “They brought it.”

But Ruiz and the No. 14 seed Scorpions had no answer for another shot, 18 minutes later, and an assist by Pallares in their 2-0 loss to the Marauders [10-1], undefeated champions of their section.

For the full story, please see the Friday, Feb. 6, issue of the Sedona Red Rock News.