Girls soccer: Xavier Prep reaches another final 4

February 4, 2017 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


Xavier Prep is headed to the final four in big-school soccer for the 10th time in the last 11 years.

Xavier qualified with a convincing 3-1 victory over No. 7 Pinnacle on Saturday in the 6A quarterfinals at Petznick Field in a rematch of a regular-season 2-2 tie the teams played to in mid-January.

It was a good afternoon for Xavier sophomore forward Kyla Ferry. Ferry scored two goals and assisted on the other in helping imporve the Gators to 12-1-3 on the season. Coach Bard Chura's team advances to the semis against the Perry-Chandler winner on Wednesday (Feb. 8) at 7 p.m. at Campo Verde High School. Pinnnacle finished up 12-4-5.

A pair of set pieces -- one in each half -- staked Xavier to control of the match. Ferry handled a throw-in from Elena Zurek in the box about 15 yards out and went top shelf to beat keeper Amanda Castagna in the 15th minute. A goal no keeper could have stopped. That's the lead Xavier took to intermission as its defense kept Pinnacle from major chances.

Castagna, Pinnacle's backup keeper, was playing for usual starter Rachael Black. Black missed the match due to a red card received in the first-round win over Tucson.

The teams sparred most the second half until a Xavier corner pushed the lead to 2-0 in the 69th minute. Abby Hubbard's corner was headed in by Ferry at the far post. 

Xavier added its final goal in the 74th minute with Ferry feeding a hard-charging Quiqui Hita to her right. Hita dribbled deep a couple feet froml Castagna and snuck it past her. Ferry has five goals in two playoff games adding her hat trick against Mountain View earlier in the week. Hita has three goals in two playoff games.

Pinnacle avoided a shutout as junior midfielder Jessica Kiefer scored a minute after Xavier made it 3-0.