Photos: No. 2 Mica Mountain edges 11th seed Goldwater 1-0 in overtime, state 4A soccer
The Thunderbolts scored the night's only goal just after the Bulldogs went down to 10 players in the first overtime period in the state 4A soccer playoffs, February 20, 2024, Tucson, Ariz. The win sets up an all-Tucson final with Mica Mountain facing Salpointe for the crown.
Mica Mountain's Landon McKendrick (12) celebrates after the final whistle of the Thunderbolts 1-0 overtime win against Goldwater in their 4A state semifinal at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 20, 2024.
Goldwater's Johann Mendez (10) comes in from behind to poke the ball away from Mica Mountain's Julian Ordaz (6) and disrupt a first half offensive threat in their 4A state semifinal at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 20, 2024.
Goldwater's Logan Allen (9) slides in to knock the ball away from Mica Mountain's Riley Carson (13) in their 4A state semifinal at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 20, 2024.
Mica Mountain's Caden Petty (3) manages to get a foot on the ball ahead of Goldwater's Anthony Mendez (20) during the first half in their 4A state semifinal at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 20, 2024.
Mica Mountain's Landon McKendrick (12) leaps in to redirect a cross in the Goldwater box in the first half of their 4A state semifinal at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 20, 2024.
Goldwater's Benjamin Lela (14) comes over the top of Mica Mountain's Cameron Turner (23) to get to the ball during the second half of their 4A state semifinal at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 20, 2024.
Goldwater's Wyatt Duncan (1) jumps in to knock a loose ball out of reach of Mica Mountain's Colin Douglas (16) in their 4A state semifinal at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 20, 2024.
Mica Mountain's JJ Boccardo (11) fires home the only score of the night on tough angle in the first overtime period against Goldwater's in their 4A state semifinal at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 20, 2024.
Mica Mountain's Austin Rios (9) slips in to keep an offensive rush alive in front of Goldwater's Sakib Bektic (4) in overtime of their 4A state semifinal at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 20, 2024.
Sporting a taped cut over his eye earned in a clash of heads late in the second overtime, a bloodied Evan Mayfield (5) celebrates the Thunderbolts’ 1-0 win in the 4A state semifinals against Goldwater at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 20, 2024.
Mica Mountain's JJ Boccardo (11) goes low to keep the ball alive against Goldwater's Johann Mendez (10) in their 4A state semifinal at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 20, 2024.
Mica Mountain's Julian Ordaz (6) lunges in to try to regain possession from Goldwater's Sakib Bektic (4) in their 4A state semifinal at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 20, 2024.
Goldwater's Johann Mendez (10) goes flying in an attempt to dislodge the ball from Mica Mountain's Caden Petty (3) during the first half in their 4A state semifinal at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 20, 2024.
Goldwater's Jose Manuel Luna (8) and Mica Mountain's Julian Ordaz (6) race for control of the ball near midfield in their 4A state semifinal at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 20, 2024.
Mica Mountain's Wyatt Pakkala (7) can’t split Goldwater's Benjamin Lela (14), left, and Miguel Budai (18) on a second half rush in their 4A state semifinal at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 20, 2024.
Mica Mountain's JJ Boccardo (11) gets to the ball just ahead of Goldwater's Jose Manuel Luna (8) during the second half in their 4A state semifinal at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 20, 2024.
Mica Mountain's goalkeeper Landon Hubbard (27) makes a kick save on a close range shot from Goldwater's Aaden Encinas (17) and persevere the 0-0 time late in the second half in their 4A state semifinal at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 20, 2024.
Goldwater's Aaden Encinas (17), left, and Mica Mountain's Landon McKendrick (12) get a foot to the ball in their 4A state semifinal at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 20, 2024.
Mica Mountain's Caden Petty (3) out jumps Goldwater's Alexis Diaz (13) near midfield in their 4A state semifinal at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 20, 2024.
Mica Mountain's Wyatt Pakkala (7) fouls Goldwater's Daniel Valle (7) on a tackle from behind giving up a free kick just outside the Thunderbolt box in their 4A state semifinal at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 20, 2024.
Goldwater's Anthony Mendez (20) attempts to drag the ball out of danger between Mica Mountain's Wyatt Pakkala (7), left, and Landon Brimhall (15) in their 4A state semifinal at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 20, 2024.
Goldwater's Alexis Diaz (13) pleads his case as the center official gives him a red card in the final minutes of the first overtime period in their 4A state semifinal at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 20, 2024. The Bolts would score 30 seconds later on the undermanned Bulldogs.
Goldwater's Aaden Encinas (17), left, and Mica Mountain's Julian Ordaz (6) arrive to the ball at the same time on midfield header in their 4A state semifinal at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 20, 2024.
Goldwater's Sakib Bektic (4) rises above Mica Mountain's Blake Allen (22), left and Wyatt Pakkala (7) trying to win the ball during the second overtime period in their 4A state semifinal at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 20, 2024.
Goldwater's Aaden Encinas (17) and his teammates anguish on the field in the moments after the final whistle of the Bulldogs’ 1-0 overtime loss in their 4A state semifinal at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 20, 2024.
Kelly Presnell
Photojournalist
High school soccer: Mica Mountain a young school with young roster but state title still in sightNo. 2 Mica Mountain faces No. 4 Salpointe Catholic in the Class 4A boys state soccer championship game Friday at Marana.