Sahuaros defeat Salt Ratz in OT for championship

Disappointment. In one word it can describe the feeling of the Utah Salt Ratz at the conclusion of their inaugural season in the Men's Premier Soccer League. The Salt Ratz played a terrific and exciting championship game Saturday night. It was so intense and so close that 90 minutes of soccer were not enough. Unfortunately for the Salt Ratz, the game ended in the 99th minute as the Arizona Sahuaros claimed the title on a "golden goal" for a 2-1 victory.

Utah came out and dominated the tempo, attack, and most of the action of the match. As good as that sounds, it may have been playing right into the Sahuaros' hands. Arizona coach Petar Draksin had a plan.

"As soon as we got the ball, they all just retreated and played defense. They sat back and countered and tried to feed their two forwards. There is a reason their coach makes his living this way," said Salt Ratz coach BJ Noble. "They came out prepared. Their defense was solid. They played KC (Nordfors, the league's leading scorer) great, not allowing him much. My hat goes out to them."

In the opening minutes the Arizona game plan was evident. The ball spent large chunks of time in the Ratz offensive zone. Thirteen minutes in, the Utah pressure paid off. Kenny Hickman took a rebound from Jesse Day and blasted a rocket past the keeper into the upper "V". The Ratz could not capitalize on any of their other chances and had to be satisfied with a 1-0 lead at the half.

In a game that had what seemed like countless fouls, seven yellow cards, and several more vicious tackles that probably merited yellows, a free kick was one of the deciding plays of the contest. In the 59th minute, Arizona forward Mannoel Coelho slotted a free kick past the wall and goalie Larkin Noble to even the score.

Sahuaros keeper Eric Tate kept them in the game the rest of the way. Utah continued to dominate the possession and quality chances to score. They could not, however, find a way to beat Tate. Numerous balls skipped agonizingly close to the goal, but none stayed between the posts. After 90 minutes the game was not decided.

The game would be decided in sudden-death overtime. The overtime periods are ten minutes long. Had it been only nine minutes and 50 seconds, Utah might have won. With around 10 seconds to play in the first overtime, Arizona's counter-attack caught the Ratz a little off guard at the back. Mannoel Coelho sneaked behind the defense and chipped the ball over the outstretched hands of the keeper for the golden goal and the championship.

"I would have to say we overachieved. We were the youngest team in the league, and didn't have any experience. It was amazing to see how every single player excelled and we came together as a group. It is disappointing to see it end that way, but we will be back," said Noble. Taking second in their first season in the MPSL gives the Ratz something to look forward to for year two.

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E-mail: mblack@desnews.com