Foot race: Ironwood Ridge's Jennifer Vanderwerf, right, hustles toward the ball with Jessica Reilly of Rincon/University in pursuit.

James S. Wood / Arizona Daily Star

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The scoreboard at Rincon/ University showed Ironwood Ridge taking an early lead and holding on for a 1-0 victory Wednesday in a Class 4A-I first- round state playoff game.

The play on the field said otherwise.

Rather than sit on Amy Ripley's goal in the 21st minute, the ninth-seeded Nighthawks (11-6-3) played the entire game with a level of aggression normally attributed to a team trying to come back or break a tie.

"We've played this team a couple of times already, and we've had the lead and they came back and beat us," said Nighthawks coach Andy Bencomo, whose team avenged two earlier losses to Rincon.

Ironwood Ridge finished with 16 shots, most of which came from strong rushes by freshman forward Christina Farrell and sophomore forward Rebecca Mosher.

The goal, however, occurred because Ripley was in the right place at the right time.

The Nighthawks set up for a free kick from 35 yards out, with junior Tommie Graham sending the ball into the box. The kick deflected off a Rincon defender and right to Ripley, who flicked it in for the game's only score.

"It was just instinct," said Ripley, the team's only senior. "We had to give everything, and I think we did that. I'm just glad it was not my last game."

No. 8 Rincon (12-7-2) managed only four shots, one in the second half.

Ironwood Ridge will play top seed Catalina Foothills (23-0) in a quarterfinal game Saturday at a site to be determined. Foothills beat Surprise Willow Canyon 8-0 Wednesday.

● Sahuaro 3, Moon Valley 0: At Sahuaro, the Cougars applied steady pressure on the Rockets to the tune of 34 shots, and jumped to an early lead in their opening-round game.

"We did have a lot of shots," Sahuaro coach Dave Kruszewski said. "And that was the game plan, to just put them away as early as possible."

Miranda Brower got things started with an unassisted goal in the 22nd minute, which was followed by a Kelcee Newell goal two minutes later.

Katie Cunningham provided some insurance for the Cougars in the second half, and they never relented.

Cougars goalkeeper Daniella Madrid kept the Rockets from gaining any momentum.

— D.J. Rodriguez

Class 4A-II

● Flagstaff Coconino 6, Santa Rita 0: At Coconino, the Eagles were outshot 22-2 by the Panthers in a first-round loss.

Coconino's Kelsey Howard had three goals, and Monica Marfechuk made three assists to lead Coconino to the quarterfinal round.

● Bullhead City Mohave 2, Palo Verde 0: At Mohave, the Titans saw their season come to an end, despite an array of chances.

They had 21 shots on goal but were unable to convert.