Matt Finders is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Metro Tech High School for AZPreps365.com 

Finally, back on top.  

The Ironwood High School boys’ soccer team took down Sunrise Mountain in the 5A State Championship game Saturday, claiming their first state title since 2011. 

The Ironwood Eagles soured past the Mustangs dominating throughout the contest in what finished with a final score of 3-0. 

The first half began with chances on both ends of the pitch in the first five minutes as the teams tried to settle into the game. 

Quickly, however, Ironwood began to capitalize on the moment.  

In the 11th minute after forcing a corner kick, Ironwood captured the lead on a cross whipped into the box, headed across the face of goal by senior defender Ben Rouse and tapped into the back of the net by the midfielder, Edgar Ocampo. 

“It's a testament to what we trained for all year,” Ironwood head coach Tim Beck said. “We earn the set pieces, and our goal is to punish teams for giving them to us.” 

After conceding the first goal, Sunrise Mountain began to increase the tempo, setting up two big chances in the 20th minute, but couldn’t quite square it up.  

Later, with just under five minutes left in the half, Ironwood doubled its lead on a monstrous throw-in on the left sideline by Rouse that found the head of striker Bryan Romero to make it 2-0 going into the break. 

“We didn’t deal with what we knew was going to be the problem, the long throw-ins,” Sunrise Mountain head coach Erik Anderson said. “It's what we prepared for all week, but still couldn’t get it done.” 

Ironwood continued where they left off in the second half, dominating possession and playing more physical and aggressive soccer than Sunrise Mountain.  

In the 49th minute, the Mustangs’ efforts to prevent chances on long throws once again proved futile when another throw-in by Rouse was knocked in by sophomore forward Javier Valle to increase the lead to three. 

Rouse ended the day as the man of the match with three assists on top of a stout defensive effort, recording a clean sheet. 

“That’s how he is,” Beck said regarding Rouse’s performance. “He’s the heart and soul of our defense, but also a big part of our offense.” 

The Eagles had several more chances following their third goal, knocking on the door multiple times before good saves were made by Sunrise Mountain goalkeeper, Mason Tumey.  

The Mustangs only opportunities to score came on counterattacks and in the urgent play after conceding goals within the game. 

With the 3-0 State Championship win, Ironwood High School finally got over the hump after falling short in their previous two finals appearances, including their loss last season to Horizon 4-1. 

“Obviously, you can’t look straight to the State Championship, you have to play all 22 games, but it felt impossible not to because we knew we were going to be here,” Rouse said. “I knew in my heart we were going to do what we had to do to win it, there was no chance we weren’t.” 

The Ironwood Eagles finished as the top ranked team in the conference in back-to-back seasons, but this year they were able to finish the job. 

“They knew it all year, we had a target on our back,” Beck said. “We took everyone’s best punch, and we came out on top.”