The Tucson area’s youngest school features a young boys soccer roster.
Throw all that out, though, becuase they’re 80 minutes away from a state championship.
Mica Mountain High School, which opened in 2020, punched a ticket to the Arizona Class 4A boys soccer state championship game with a 1-0 overtime win over Phoenix Barry Goldwater on Tuesday night.
It’s MM’s third year of varsity and second competitive season.
“In your second season with such a young team and a young program — their resilience, their grit,” MM head coach Jerry Wood said.
“They come out and they practice hard every day and this just speaks volumes to the Vail school district and Mica Mountain High School, being able to put a team together and make a deep run like this is awesome.”
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The Thunderbolts (17-5, 5-0 4A Gila) won the region and earned the No. 2 seed in the state tournament despite starting five freshmen. Mica Mountain’s 29 player roster features 14 freshmen or sophomores.
Mica Mountain’s Landon McKendrick (12) celebrates after the final whistle of the Thunderbolts’ 1-0 overtime win against Phoenix Barry Goldwater in a 4A boys high school state semifinal matchup Tuesday at Mica Mountain High School in Tucson.
Goldwater’s Johann Mendez (10) comes in from behind to poke the ball away from Mica Mountain’s Julian Ordaz (6) to disrupt a first half offensive threat in Tuesday’s 4A state semifinal matchup in Tucson.
“Three-year program and we’re already there I mean it’s actually like, it’s sensational,” said MM junior goalkeeper Landon Hubbard. “I don’t know how to feel, it’s such a good feeling.”
Mica Mountain faces No. 4 Salpointe Catholic in the final on Friday at 7 p.m. at Marana.
The Thunderbolts have won eight in a row.
Senior J.J. Boccardo, who has been at MM since it opened, snuck the game winning goal on Tuesday past the Goldwater keeper on the near post.
“I was just thinking ‘I have to score this right now or it’s nothing’ I didn’t have anybody in the box, it was just me, solo and the goal,” Boccardo said.
MM has played 11 one-goal games or draws.
“They’re like the Wildcats. They like to keep it interesting up til the end of the game and finally put one in the back of the net,” Wood said, with a laugh.
“I don’t know how he put one in through that angle but he did it and I’m so proud of that kid.
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 state semifinal win Tuesday.
“He’s a senior and he fought and fought and fought.”
In the fall season, Mica Mountain’s girls volleyball and football teams made the state semifinals.
“It’s amazing. We’re the first team sport to go to the state championship,” Hubbard said. “It’s a great accomplishment as a team and it’s been beautiful. Really it has.
“It’s been a great season and I couldn’t be more thankful for my boys, really.”
MM opened the season with a 6-1 loss to Salpointe and losing three of its first four; but the squad looks different now, considering Hubbard, for one, wasn’t there for the season opening Brandon Bean Soccer Tournament.
“Oh we’ve grown a ton since then,” Wood said.
“We’re a very young team. Five freshmen on the varsity team and to be able to grow and learn from those tournaments is huge ...
“We’ve grown so much and we’ve learned to play with one another and be resilient when we’re on the counter attack an all those things.
“And we’ll be ready.”
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