Arizona United SC moves to Scottsdale Stadium for 2015 season

The Arizona United Soccer Club announced Scottsdale Stadium will be the team's home for the 2015 USL PRO season.

The announcement came via a notice to season ticket holders and a press release issued by the team early Tuesday morning.

“This is the next step in professional soccer’s evolution in Arizona,” Arizona United Soccer Club owner Kyle Eng said through the release. “Our mission is to serve the entire Arizona soccer community, and this move will bring the beautiful game to a wider audience. With Scottsdale Stadium’s proximity to restaurants and nightlife in Downtown Scottsdale, our supporters will enjoy a game day experience that is second to none.”

Scottsdale Mayor W. J. "Jim" Lane was on hand as members of the Arizona United organization toured the stadium complex Tuesday afternoon.

"Given the popularity of soccer worldwide, and the growing popularity of soccer in the United States, I can only imagine [playing in Scottsdale] is going to positive," Lane said. "We're always looking for the right kind of connection for Scottsdale. Having an event, particularly a sports related event, is an added experience. It's always a plus for us."

Lane also said proximity to downtown Scottsdale will benefit the business and soccer fans alike. Arizona United's season will begin just as the busiest tourist season is waning.

"This is a big plus," Lane said.  "For our downtown, at that point in the season, there will be a lot of things [visitors] can do downtown."

Lane added he doesn't foresee any issues moving crowds in and out of the area on game days.

"We have facilities that are really wide open that time of year," Lane said. "We're not into the heavy season with an influx of a lot of visitors.

"You're going to have free parking. It's a mainstay and a requirement of the City of Scottsdale. There's more than enough capacity to meet the needs [Arizona United] anticipates."

Arizona United's newest signee, Rob Valentino, is also excited about the team's move to Scottsdale.

"I've been describing it as my big kid dream come true," Valentino said.  "When I was a young kid I didn't have the dream to be able to play professional soccer in my backyard and know I do.

"It feels good to be home with family and friends and now to be in Scottsdale, it's great. This is where I grew up playing with Sereno. It will be fun to play in professional games here."

Scottsdale Stadium is located at 7408 E. Osborn Rd, just east of Scottsdale Road between Thomas and Indian School Roads.

Representatives from Arizona United SC flank Scottsdale Mayor W. J. "Jim" Lane during a visit to Scottsdale Stadium. Pictured are (l to r) Brad Stisser, Asst. Coach Cory Robertson, Head Coach Mike Dellorusso, Mayor Lane, General Manager Kevin Stevenson, Scott Morrison, Rob Valentino.

Verrado girls soccer opens with 6-0 win over Chavez

  The defending state champion Verrado girls soccer team began its 2014-15 season with a target on its back. Many teams will work just a little harder to try to get the edge on the Vipers this season.

  Verrado’s opening match of the season was played at Cesar Chavez High School in Phoenix on Tuesday.  The Vipers emerged victorious with a 6-0 win.

  The Vipers have  several players with experience from last year’s title winning team, as well as players who have move up from Junior Varsity. The Vipers also have four freshmen on the roster.

Jessica Farmer

  Despite what may have been a brief, sluggish start the Vipers found an opportunity during the 15th minute of the game when Jessica Farmer snagged the ball near the top of the 18-yard box, took a few touches as she moved toward the net and blasted the ball past the keeper to give Verrado a 1-0 lead.

  From that point forward Verrado peppered the Chavez goal with a steady barrage of shots from all angles.

Hallie Shippy

  Verrado scored again a few minutes later when Hallie Shippy took the ball toward net from midfield and fired a shot from 15 yards out. The ball took a slight deflection off the keepers right foot and into the goal.

Sandra Christiansson

  Sandra Christiansson was the next Viper to score. She dribbled the ball down the left side and fired a shot from a very tight angle. The Chavez keeper was able to get a hand on the ball but it still found the side netting.

  A fourth  first-half goal was added just before time expired. Christiansson centered a ball from the left side finding Sierra Smith directly in front of the goal. Smith put the ball into the net with one touch.

Sierra Smith

  Sierra Smith opened the scoring in the second half when she dribbled the ball from just right of center and fired from about 20 yards away to make the score 5-0 with 26 minutes to go in the game.

  Verrado got it’s last goal on a genuine golazo by Christiansson who scored on a corner kick. She was able to bend the ball directly into the net from the right side.

   Up next the Lady Vipers take on Betty Fairfax at Verrado on Friday, Dec. 12. Game time is 6:00 p.m.

Arizona State falls to Arizona

Wildcats claim PAC-12 South Title

  A sign outside the Arizona State football locker room at Arizona Stadium in Tucson read “Warning! The temperature on the field is 109° F.”

  The temperature on the field became the least of the Sun Devils worries during the team’s first offensive series last Friday when Arizona’s star linebacker Scooby Wright III hacked scrambling ASU quarterback Taylor Kelly, causing a fumble. Arizona Safety Anthony Lopez scooped up the ball and ran 25 yards to the end zone for a touchdown just 44 seconds into the game.

  It was not the start Arizona State wanted. The ultimately lost 42-35.

  At stake in the ASU-UA game was a possible PAC-12 South title and an opportunity to play Oregon for the PAC-12 Championship. A loss by UCLA meant the winner of the ASU-UA game would clinch the PAC-12 South title.

Scooby Wright III

  Arizona State (9-3) returned the favor with a defensive touchdown of its own when Wildcat quarterback Anu Solomon lost the ball inside Arizona’s 5-yard line. Sun Devil defensive lineman Demetrius Cherry grabbed the ball and dived 2 yards for the score to tie the game at 7-7 with just less than six minutes to go in the first quarter.

  Arizona (10-2) answered quickly with a 69-yard scoring pass from Solomon to Samajie Grant on the third play of the following drive.

  The teams continue to trade touchdowns with the score even at 21-21 at the break.

  The Wildcats gave themselves some breathing room in the third quarter by scoring twice on rushes by Nick Wilson to widen their margin to 35-21.

  Late in the third quarter Arizona State Head Coach Todd Graham opted to keep starting quarterback Kelly on the sidelines and let Mike Bercovici call the signals for remainder of the game. Bercovici responded and threw two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter.  The first touchdown got Arizona State to within seven points of the Wildcats, but Arizona again responded when a second Solomon to Grant touchdown pass increased the lead to two touchdowns with the score 42-28.

  As the lead increased, the buzz in the stands among Arizona fans tuned into the internet began to swell as word that Stanford was leading UCLA in Pasadena. If Arizona was able to maintain its lead the team would win the PAC-12 South title.

  Bercovici, however, was not done yet and led the Devils on a 78-yard drive capped by a 9-yard scoring pass to De’Marieya Nelson with just over five minutes remaining.

  Arizona State’s defense stopped the Wildcats on the ensuing possession and forced a punt but the Devils were not able to capitalize and the drive ended with Bercovici throwing three straight incomplete passes allowing Arizona to take possession on downs.

  The Wildcats ran out the clock to win the game and the celebration was on.

  Arizona Fans stormed the field as members of the Wildcat team took possession of the Territorial Cup, the original and newly revived trophy passed to the winning team at the end of each year’s rivalry game.

  Arizona will now face Oregon in the PAC-12 Championship game in Santa Clara, Calif., on Friday.  Both teams have incentive to perform well and win that game as Oregon is hoping to maintain its position in the top four schools eligible for the NCAA National Championship playoffs.  Arizona must win to be considered a candidate for one of the top four spots.

Arizona State ends 2014 home schedule with 52-31 victory over Cougars

Team heads to Tucson to play in Territorial Cup game Friday

Arizona State quarterback Taylor Kelly acknowledges fans in the student section during senior recognition prior to Saturday’s game against Washington State.

  Arizona State weathered a rocky start to it’s PAC-12 conference game against the Washington State Cougars on Saturday and rebounded from a 21-7 deficit to earn a 52-31 victory.

  It appeared the Devils came out flat following last week’s disappointing loss to Oregon State—A lost that dashed any hopes Arizona State had of earning one of the coveted top 4 playoff spots in the NCAA football championship playoffs.

  Tough play by the defense that earned five turnovers that resulted in 35 offensive points.  Arizona State intercepted Cougar quarterback Luke Falk four times and recovered on fumble.

Add captionWashington State quarterback Luke Falk hits the deck after being sacked for an 11-yard loss by Arizona State defensive lineman Marcus Hardison.

  Arizona State Senior Quarterback Taylor Kelly, who endured several rounds of boos from the crowd during a lackluster first half, went 15-of 25  for 232 yards, including a 42-yard touchdown strike to Cameron Smith.

  Arizona State rallied at the end of the first half and scored two touchdowns during the last 3:12 of the half to tie the game at 21.  A field goal by the Cougars as time expired in the first half gave Washington State a 24-21 lead at half, but the momentum appeared to have already shifted in Arizona State’s direction.

  Senior running back D.J. Foster lead the Sun Devils in rushing, gaining 96 yard on 15 carries. He scored all three rushing touchdowns for Arizona State.

  Damrious Randall led Arizona State on defense with 11 total tackles during the game, followed by Laiu Moeakiola who had 8 tackles.

  One of the defensive highlights of the game was a fumble recovery and return by Arizona State linebacker Viliami Latu. After recovering the ball Latu lumbered 51-yards down the Washington State sideline to the 18-yard line. Foster scored and 18-yard rushing touchdown on the next play.

  Arizona State’s final game of the season comes Friday as the Devils take on Arizona in the annual Territorial Cup game.

  The PAC-12 South championship could be on the line during the Territorial Cup game. Arizona State, Arizona and UCLA all have an opportunity to win the South crown. If UCLA loses to Stanford University on Friday, the winner of the Arizona State-Arizona game will win the South and play Oregon for the PAC-12 Championship.

Vipers fall to Canyon Del Oro

Verrado’s team captains Darby Neal, Eric Ruiz, Eric Cabello and Ross Dietz walk hand-in-hand to the center of the field for the coin toss in last Friday’s game played at Canyon Del Oro High School in Tucson.

  Verrado football’s season of firsts came to an end following a 38-21 loss to the Canyon Del Oro Dorados in a game played in Tucson last Friday.  It was Verrado’s first-ever post season football appearance.

  The Vipers struck first, scoring on their first possession of the game. Verrado marched the length of the field and scored on a 1-yard quarterback keeper by Lathon Lax with 7:48 remaining in the first quarter.

 CDO quickly countered to tie the game and went on to score  28 points before the Vipers got back on the board following a 4-yard run by running back Donte Richardson to make the score 28-14.

 The Dorados put the next 10 points on the scoreboard to increase their lead to 38-14, but the Vipers scored once again when Senior quarterback Eric Ruiz hit Senion Nathan Roehl on a 3-yard touchdown pass with less than a minute remaining to make the score 38-21.

  The end of game marked the end of Verrado’s best season in its 7-year varsity history.

  Following the game head coach Derek Wahlstrom said he was very proud of the Vipers.

  “We have a team the 9-2 and made the playoffs for the first time in school history,” Wahsltrom said.  "We set all kinds of school records. The one thing I’d like everybody to know is they’re better young men than they are players. We got some outstanding young men in this team, program and community that we are blessed to coach."

a host of Vipers gang tackles CDO ball carrier Martin Holloway during the fourth quarter of the November 7th game.