Shadow Ridge clinched region title
January 30, 2024 by Jose Garcia, AZPreps365
Bring on the playoffs.
Shadow Ridge sure seems ready.
The Stallions, playing without some players due to illness, still managed to clinch the West Valley Region title for the second consecutive year. They did so Tuesday with a 3-1 victory, spoiling Tolleson’s Senior Night at Dr. Charles A. Landis Stadium.
Coach Andrew Engwall and his staff are making opponents take notice of his boys from Surprise. His fifth-year program won its region and reached the postseason last season for the first time.
“We have to learn to win these type of rock fight matches” Engwall said. “(Tolleson) always plays hard and tough. A couple of years ago, we couldn’t deal with this. We didn’t have the maturity. But now we are starting to get the experience.”
Tolleson (11-7-1, 2-1-1), one of the West Valley’s programs with a strong soccer tradition, still had a shot at the region title and kept battling despite trailing 3-0 in the second half.
The match was highlighted by a spectacular goal courtesy of No. 5 Logan Henley in the first half and second half back-to-back saves by goalkeeper Eli Anderson. Tolleson’s Jayden Perez converted a penalty kick in the 57th minute and lined up to take another PK about two minutes later with his team trailing 3-1.
But Anderson helped save the day by blocking Perez twice.
@AthleticsShadow clinched the 6A West Valley Region title thanks in part to goalkeeper Eli Anderson. The junior blocked a PK, ensuing shot and halted the momentum of Tolleson, which was trailing by two in the second half. Shadow Ridge won 3-1. pic.twitter.com/KuqyzPgrr7
— Jose E. Garcia (@AZPreps365Jose) January 31, 2024
“He got the first one on me, but I knew he was going to the same side on the second one,” Anderson said. “I got my hand on it and then he came in again. I don’t know how, but the ball hit my foot and got this double save and just kept it tight from there.”
Henley’s first half long distance right-footed blast, which dipped just under the crossbar, gave him his sixth goal of the season and Shadow Ridge a 1-0 lead.
Take a bow Mr. Logan Henley. The captain handed 6A West Valley Region leader @AthleticsShadow a 1-0 lead in the 18’ with this 35-yard golazo at Tolleson: pic.twitter.com/IuHFjFUQ3U
— Jose E. Garcia (@AZPreps365Jose) January 31, 2024
“I was so hype (after) it went in,” Henley said. “It was a banger and for the region (title). I had to go celebrate with my teammates.”
Henley was near the second goal for his team with less than three minutes remaining in the first half.
It came off a corner kick and appeared to be a Tolleson own goal.
Casey Jarrett tapped in the final goal for Shadow Ridge (18-2, 4-0) in the 47th minute. The Stallions host Cesar Chavez Thursday and may wind up hosting a first round 6A playoff match.
They are now in search of their program’s first playoff victory.
