Streaking Arizona Western and Pima remain headed toward an Oct. 23 showdown as both nationally-ranked men's soccer teams remain unbeaten.
AZW (6-0, 13-0) is ranked eighth in NJCAA Division I and Pima (6-0, 12-0) is No. 1 in Division II.
The Matadors won twice last week, topping Mesa, 6-1, and getting past Yavapai, 2-1. In the MCC game, Western broke open a 2-1 game with four goals in 15 minute span midway through the second half. Michael Apiah had two goals and an assist. Then, Apiah and Nozomu Kamei gave the Mats a 2-0 lead over Yavapai which they made stand up despite a YC goal by Carlos Nunez late in the second half.
Meanwhile, Pima won three times last week. First came a 3-1 win over Chandler-Gilbert in which the Coyotes scored first on an own goal. Then, Manuel Quiroz, Francisco Manzo and Lorenzo Nicolia all found the range. The Aztecs then edged Phoenix, 2-1 in overtime, as Quiroz scored on a penalty kick just three minutes into the first extra period. Brian Vu scored early for Pima while the Bears' score was an own goal. Finally, PCC stopped Scottsdale in a wild one, 5-3. All eight goals were scored by different players.
Paradise Valley is trying to hang in with 11 points but trails the two front-runners by seven. The Pumas took a pair of close ones last week, edging Glendale, 3-2, and Mesa, 1-0. In the GCC game Enrique Arellano helped the Pumas overcome a 2-0 deficit with a pair of goals, including the game-winner in the 86th minute. In the MCC contest Jalen Pasillas netted the game's only goal in the 71st minute.
