Tucson FC Women over El Paso Surf 2-1

Luz Duarte (20) celebrates her first goal together with team captain Bri Barreiro. (Andy Morales / AllSportsTucson)

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The shots came and came. It was a furious pace that put the El Paso Surf defense to the test, but also the persistence of the Tucson Women’s attack. In the end, the “Women in Black” counted 21 shots in a 2-1 victory over the expansion club Desert Conference, with over a dozen of these attempts being made in the first 30 minutes of the game.

Former Catalina and Pueblo standout and Mexico national team member Luz Duarte broke through in the 22nd minute after an assist from former University of Arizona standout Jaden Bailey and the team was on their way. Bailey was a two-time Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year winner while leading Gilbert Highland to a state championship, and she is also known for her long and precise flip-ins when called to do so.

Jaden Bailey throwing in a flip. (Andy Morales / AllSportsTucson)

El Paso was supposed to start competition in the Women’s Premier Soccer League last year, but the pandemic delayed the program’s entry into the WPSL this summer and the team lost on 29 2-2 draw with SC del Sol of Phoenix the following day.

Last weekend’s game speed experience apparently gave surf an edge over Tucson Women FC on Friday night as the local club had little practice with a squad that was recently cemented under incumbent Division Coach of the Year Kelly Pierce, but that The roster is stacked with experience and talent. Experience and talent cannot overcome the exhaustion that sets in after the type of attack the team stepped up, so the offensive retreated and a controlled passing game began, sustained by a strong defense.

Luz Duarte with 2 goals for @fctucsonwomen former @CHSTucsonTrojan and @PuebloAthletics outstanding pic.twitter.com/jQ8mFMFP1T

– Andy Morales (@ AndyMorales8) June 5, 2021

“I’m very happy with the win,” said Pierce. “We only had two weeks of training, but I saw early on that we had great control and control and we worked on passing and moving the ball. We also did a great job getting to Luz where she was wreaking havoc. But there was some fatigue and that’s to be expected, especially since some of the players haven’t really played for a while. “

Danica Guzman made nine saves against this attack and the El Paso goalkeeper played remarkably well, reflecting her age (15) and the level of competition with former University of Montana and Swedish Division I pros Erin Craig and Duarte and Bailey at the Top reflected with former UTEP standout Bri Barreiro, who holds the center along with former Salpointe standouts Kate Connelly and Paloma Teran. Former Rincon / UHS and current All-WAC standout in New Mexico state striker Hannah Leitner also joined.

Kelly Pierce. (Andy Morales / AllSportsTucson)

Duarte scored in the 53rd minute after a presentation by Craig to make it 2-0 for FC Women, but Chrystal Martinez halved the lead with a penalty in the 87th minute. Tucson Women FC turned to defense to secure day one victory with four minutes of added time. Former Mountain View and Arizona defenders Laura and Priscilla Pimienta joined former NAU and English Premier Women’s League defender Savannah Berry and former Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year Micaela Hornstein. Salpointe Junior Maddie Smith held the goalkeeping seat.

The Tucson Women FC will receive Arizona FC on Wednesday June 9th before heading to Las Vegas on Sunday June 13th to accept the other expansion program, Atomic City FC.

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Andy Morales was named Best High School Reporter by the AIA in 2014, received the 2017 Ray McNally Award, a 2019 AZ Education News Award winner, and has been a youth, high school and college coach for over 30 years. He was the first in Arizona to write about high school beach volleyball and high school girls wrestling. His own children have won several state high school championships and have been called to all-state teams. He competed in hockey, basketball, baseball, and athletics in high school and his unique perspective can only be found here and on AZPreps365.com. Andy is the voting member of the Ed Doherty Award in Southern Arizona, which recognizes the best football player in Arizona, and was named a Local Hero by Tucson Weekly in 2016. Andy was named Honorary Flowing Wells Caballero in 2019 and is a member of the Amphi COVID-19 Blue Ribbon Committee. Contact Andy Morales at [email protected]

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