Coach Drew defeats former team for first time

The Mesa Lady Thunderbirds soccer team came from behind to defeat the Chandler-Gilbert Lady Coyotes on Tuesday night, August 30 at John D. Riggs Stadium.

That's not the story, however. 

Coach Andrew Guarneri took special pride in this victory as it was his first against the team he coaches for seven seasons, and that's the story. 

"This feels great because I have never beaten Chandler-Gilbert," says head coach Andrew Guarneri.

Mesa took a 1-0 deficit and turned it into a 2-0 victory on some fantastic offensive set pieces and a great throw-in from Maria Duarte that set up the game-winning goal as time ran down.

Freshman midfielder Micah Jones got the scoring started as the Chandler-Gilbert player notched a goal in the 28th minute on a loose ball in front of the net.

Mesa would have to wait until the second half to knot things up.  It would come on a set corner kick off the foot of sophomore midfielder Maria Duarte to freshman defender Tierney Chittum in the 64th minute.

Mesa controlled most of the offensive tempo in the second half of this one and it proved to be beneficial as the Lady Coyotes defense seemed to tire.

The game-winner came off the foot of sophomore midfielder Rihana Shah but it was Maria Duarte's perfect throw-in that set up the whole play in the 87th minute. 

Coach Drew can thank his ladies' grit and intestinal fortitude for this victory.  The ladies and men take their collective shows on the road to Phoenix College this Saturday, September 3 at 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. 

The ladies now move to 2-1 on the young season and the men, who suffered defeat in the nightcap, are now at 2-2.