Chandler dominates Mtn. Pointe in Diablo boys soccer opener

December 3, 2012 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


Chandler's boys soccer team was hungry to play Monday afternoon in its opener of the Bill Vanney Tempe Diablos Soccer Tournament and the early returns were evident. Scoring twice in the first 15 minutes, Chandler went on to post an easy 4-1 victory over Mountain Pointe at the Tempe Sports Complex.

"We came off a rocky week losing to Dobson in PKs," Chandler coach Sasha Hunter said. "We came out on the attack."

The initial two goals both were on set pieces and four different players scored for Chandler (2-2).

 Four minutes in Taylor Rumsey's throw-in reached Matt Schwalenberg's head  a couple yards out near the right corner of the net. The junior midfielder bumped it home.

Schwalenberg's twin brother, Sam, got involved in the 15th minute. Sam Schwalenberg delivered a nice cross off a corner kick that was deflected, but the Wolves Jairo Castro knocked in the rebound for the 2-0 lead.

That's the margin Chandler took to the half.  Mountain Pointe mustered a corner kick just before Chandler's first goal, but little or nothing the rest of the half. Things didn't get much better in the second half.

"We didn't match up well with them," Mountain Pointe coach Bryan Sabato said. "They were big, physical, strong and athletic. More than we were. It's hard to play your way back, down 2-0 so quick. We didn't win the ball in the middle third of the field. When you don't do that they're going to get chances from a closer distance. They had us under pressure the entire game."

Chandler made it 3-0 in the 52nd minute as sophomore Don Tchilao knocked one home from 18 yards out. Mountain Pointe scored its only goal in the 57th minuite when John Abercrombie tallied from 20 yards out.

"We were upset about that goal," Hunter said. "They happen because you lose focus. Hopefully we learn from that. Other than that we played strong. We're an attack team. And we have a strong defense."

Both teams subbed liberally in the final few minutes. Chandler capped the scoring with senior Omar Chavez finding the right corner of the net in the 79th minute. Chandler continues pool play Tuesday against Westwood at 4 p.m. Mountain Pointe faces Highland on Tuesday, also at 4 p.m.