Even if you didn’t have a roster at a Tempe Corona del Sol girls soccer game, it was easy to find senior Brittany Cole. She was the one in the middle of all the opposing players.
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“There were many times she was double-teamed, even triple-teamed,” Corona coach Matt Smith said. “But she never lost her focus on what she was trying to accomplish. And her No. 1 goal was always doing whatever the team needed.”
Since the time she burst on the scene for the Aztecs as a freshman, Cole has been a point-producing machine. She leaves as the school’s all-time leader in goals (84) and total points (181). She scored 22 times this season and added 19 assists.
She scored the game-winning goals in the 2006 and 2007 state championship matches and was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for the 2006-07 season.
Perhaps most impressive, Cole leaves Corona with a four-year record of 96-8.
“I’ve just always tried to do my best, and hope that was enough,” said Cole, who will be playing at the University of Arizona this fall. “Things went pretty well for us. Unfortunately we came up a little short this year.”
The Aztecs lost in a state quarterfinal match this past postseason, and it’s that very concentration on the team concept that Smith said separates Cole from other superstars.
“She never let her reputation or status get in the way of what we were doing as a team,” Smith said. “She plays with this sense of calmness. Despite being the focus of every opponent, she never got in a hurry and kept her cool.”
Cole said she hopes to find her niche in Tucson. When she does, you can bet she’ll once again be in the middle of the action.
“There are always things you can work on to get better, but you just have to play,” Cole said. “Playing soccer is something I have always done. Hopefully my best will be good enough again.”
Looking Back: Memorable moments from the 2007-08 season
Underdogs rule: The 2007–08 5A-I state tournament will be remembered as the year the underdog prevailed. Not only did Phoenix Mountain Pointe win the 16-team tournament as a No. 11 seed, but seven postseason matches were won by lower-seeded teams. The Pride eventually took the title with a thrilling 2-1 shootout victory (4-2) over Gilbert.
First at last: Tempe Prep wiped away three consecutive years of runner-up finishes by winning the 1A-3A state championship. Tempe Prep beat Fountain Hills 3-1 in the title match in coach Peter Bezanson’s final game.
Record-setters: Many schools had players set school records for scoring; among them were Brittany Cole at Corona del Sol, Mari Greenberg at Scottsdale Desert Mountain, Mackenzie Stevens at Tempe McClintock, Olivia Kuby at Tempe Prep and Jessica Lopez at Chandler Seton Catholic.
Ding-ding: Seton Catholic and Gilbert Higley played a pair of intense matches this season. Seton won both times, including a 3-2 overtime victory in a 4A-II state semifinal. After both matches, heated words were exchanged by coaches, players and fans. And this rivalry is just getting started.
Class 5A All-Tribune first team
Player School Yr. Pos. Comment
Chelsea Canepa Xavier Sr. F State-best 34 goals, heading to Duke
Brittany Cole Corona del Sol Sr. F School’s career leader in goals, assists
Katie Shepard Desert Vista Sr. F Catalyst for Thunder, headed to ASU
Sam Cummings Xavier So. MF Good player on one of state’s best teams
Courtney Mayers Corona del Sol Sr. MF 26 goals, off to Alabama-Huntsville
Kat McDonald Mtn. Pointe Sr. MF Led Pride to spectacular 5A-I state title
Sam Conrad Gilbert Sr. MF Co-offensive Fiesta POY
Chelsea Riedell Highland Jr. D Fiesta Region defensive POY
Megan Larsen Corona del Sol Sr. D Solidified stingy Aztec defense
Sarah Lehman Gilbert Sr. D Helped Tigers win Fiesta Region title
Lauren Mitchell Desert Vista Sr. G First-team 5A all-state pick by coaches
5A Player of the Year: Brittany Cole, Corona del Sol, Sr.
Coach of the Year: Mark Wilson, Mountain Pointe. Pride entered 16-team state tournament as No. 11 seed and won four consecutive overtime games for the 5A-I title.
Class 5A All-Tribune second team
Player School Yr. Pos. Comment
Bianca Doller Marcos de Niza Jr. F Co-5A-II POY honors in coaches poll
Danielle Shorts Highland Sr. F Co-offensive POY in Fiesta Region
Jessica Sobczak Red Mountain Sr. F Tallied 31 points for E.V. Region champs
Megan Striedel Red Mountain So. MF E.V. Region player of year, 32 points
Aubri Carman Mtn. Pointe Sr. MF Played best in tourney, off to Purdue
Alexis Burkhart Corona del Sol Sr. MF 4-year starter with 2 state titles
Ashley Jimenez Basha Sr. MF First-team all-Central Region selection
Carrie Whigham Desert Vista So. MF Provided offense from midfield
Madison Rumore Gilbert Sr. D All-Fiesta Region first team pick
Jessica Petznick Xavier Jr. D Big reason team will be favorites in ‘09
Annie Graham Xavier So. G Another reason Gators will be favored
Class 5A Honorable Mention:
CORONA DEL SOL: Hailey Hayes, So., G; Ashley Kniffen, So., D/F; Lexie Schroeder, Jr., MF. DESERT MOUNTAIN: Mari Greenberg, Sr., MF. DESERT RIDGE: Alysha Joyner, Jr., G. DESERT VISTA: Katyln Piotrowski, Sr., D. GILBERT: Ariel Cook, Sr., F; Brittany Kaminski, Jr., D; Alyssa Gutierrez, Jr., F. HAMILTON: Madyson Wellcome, So., D. HIGHLAND: Hilary Zenuk, So., MF. HORIZON: Ali Norlander, Jr., F. MARCOS DE NIZA: Alex Doller, Fr., MF. MESQUITE: Kimmie Fielder, Sr., MF. MOUNTAIN POINTE: Karen Kierstad, Fr., D; Tessa Bowie, Jr., G. PINNACLE: Kendall Snyder, Jr., F; Sarah Fulwider, Sr., D; Kelsey Anderson, Jr., MF. RED MOUNTAIN Taylor Gonzalez, Sr., MF. SKYLINE: Krystal Becerra, Jr., D.
Class 4A-1A All-Tribune first team
Player School Yr. Pos. Comment
Olivia Kuby Tempe Prep Sr. F 36 goals this season, headed to Colgate
Carissa LaFevers Higley Sr. F Led high-powered offense to 4A-II semis
Amy Thrall Chaparral Sr. F Off. leader pushed team to 4A-I semis
Mackenzie Stevens McClintock Sr. MF School’s all-time leader in goals, assists
Jessica Lopez Seton Catholic Sr. MF 61 points, off to Saint Louis University
Ellie Cobb Tempe Prep Sr. MF Second on team to Kuby in offense
Haley Struthers Chaparral Sr. MF Team’s distributor, led to region title
Jenna Bowers Seton Catholic Sr. D Part of three state titles in four years
Blakele Bergman Higley Sr. D Hoops player off to Montana for soccer
Mackenzie Wadas Cactus Shadows Sr. D Top defender for stingy defensive unit
Nicole Celestino Seton Catholic Sr. D Just missed four straight state titles
4A-1A Player of the Year: Olivia Kuby, Tempe Prep
Coach of the Year: Peter Bezanson, Tempe Prep. In his final season at the school, and after three consecutive losses in the state championship, finally got the first-place trophy this season.
Class 4A-1A All-Tribune second team
Player School Yr. Pos. Comment
Taylor Mogel Notre Dame Fr. G A star in the making
Hannah Drew McClintock So. G Another youngster with big upside
Eleanor Beatty Seton Catholic Sr. F Part of a dynamic offensive punch
Katie Gabb Valley Christian Sr. MF Leader who guided team to 1A-3A semis
Greta Vogel Fountain Hills So. MF Will be one of top returnees in 1A-3A
Erin Delamater Higley Sr. MF Controlled both halves of field
Kirsten LeDuc Apache Junction Sr. MF Helped get team into region top half
Andrea Alley Valley Christian Sr. MF Had Trojans within a goal of state finals
Samantha Roberts Higley Sr. MF Part of class that had spectacular run
Megan Rush Seton Catholic Jr. D One of few coming back for Sentinels
Bailee Wilson Higley Sr. D Coaches pick as one of top defenders
Class 4A-1A Honorable Mention:
CHAPARRAL Rachel Quinn, Jr., F. FLORENCE: Christina Blanco, Sr., MF. FOUNTAIN HILLS: Andy Brookhauser, Jr., MF. NOTRE DAME: Sarah McCroy, Sr., MF; Taylor Quenzler, Sr., MF. PARADISE VALLEY: Ally Cwiekowski, Jr., D. TEMPE PREP: Rachel LeBeau, Sr., D; Laura Zanck, Jr., MF.
