Sidewinders end season in a championship heartbreaker

MESA, Ariz. (KYMA) - The San Luis Sidewinders boys soccer team is no stranger to title games, making it to the championship three times over the last four years. But this year ended in the same way the rest did: Defeat. This time, it was a 2-1 loss in extra time to the Liberty Lions.

Things were looking different Saturday night as Gio Ortega wrote his name in the San Luis boys soccer history book with his single-season record 25th goal.

It gave the Sidewinders their first lead in any of the championship matches they have been to in their last three trips.

"It was a great game," said head coach Jesus Rojas. "We dominated. We had the most chances."

Rojas' team was merely minutes aware from securing the trophy, but as time was winding down, the Lions executed on one of their few scoring chances to tie things up and hit the kill switch on the Sidewinders.

The game headed into extra time and the Lions marched into it with all the momentum. It didn't take long for them to get by the goalkeeper again.

Liberty scored after overtime had barely started to secure the crown and leave San Luis watching the celebration in disappointment once again.

"They had three [chances]," Rojas said. "They scored two. We had 10. We scored one. That's how soccer is, unfortunately...I'm very proud of the kids." They played amazing. Having 17 seniors was difficult to manage because everybody wanted to play, but they pushed each other."

With the exit of the senior class, San Luis will have a vastly different group heading into next season. One thing is almost a certainty, however, Rojas will field a team of title contenders again.

But the question continues to linger: Can San Luis finally take the ultimate step in reaching the pinnacle of the AIA 6A Conference?