Shamrocks fall short against Bulldogs to end season

Yuma Catholic's great season comes to a close after 2-1 loss to Safford

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - The Yuma Catholic Shamrocks fell to the Safford Bulldogs 2-1 at Ricky Gwynn Stadium for their 3A State Championship playoff game on Tuesday night.

The Bulldogs jumped to an early lead within the first half of the game and would extend their lead on a penalty kick from Trynity Dominquez.

With 10 minutes to go, Shamrock's Natalie Chavez delivered a corner kick that found the foot of senior captain Maya Daniel for a goal, pulling Yuma Catholic within one and shifting momentum in their favor.

Rock's keeper Taylor Wallace kept them in the game with many beautiful saves throughout the game as well, but the offense wasn't able to find the back of the net a second time.

"Those saves that she did, not every goalie can do," said Yuma Catholic Head Coach Emilio Lugo on the goalies performance. "When placing the ball, it's hard for a goalie to take those out, and she did in the game."

Safford's star forward Dominquez had many chances to bury the Shamrocks but Wallace kept them in the game.

While the girls finished first in their region, they had a bumpy start, but their adversity and togetherness got them through the season.

"If we would see a small group, we would talk to them," Lugo said. "'We can't have this, it has to be a single group, not small groups here and there.' I think that's one of the things that coach Stevenson and I worked on a lot this year and in past years, but I think this year it was more tight."