By Don Ketchum

Francisco Lopez and Jose Quintana were true to their job descriptions as strikers on Thursday night (Jan. 6), each scoring a goal as the boys’ soccer team from Glendale High defeated neighborhood rival Glendale Independence 4-1 at Glendale.

Jonathan Maciel and Jorge Gonzalez also scored for the Cardinals, who raised their overall record to 11-2-2. Independence fell to 5-3-1 overall.

“Our strikers put a hole in the back of the net (with the force of their kicks),’’ said Glendale coach Gary Chavez.

Glendale began this week as the top Class 4A Division I team in power points but had slipped to No. 6 entering Thursday’s play, due in part to the fact that a match against Prescott on Tuesday (Jan. 4) was cancelled. Independence began the week at No. 2 and had climbed into the top spot.

Nogales, Tucson Catalina Foothills, Tucson Sabino and Avondale Agua Fria all are in the mix for the top spots.

Independence was the aggressor early, keeping the ball close to the Glendale goal, but Lopez’s goal, at the 16:30 mark of the first half, seemed to awaken his team.

From then on, it was basically all Glendale. The Cardinals had advantages in size and speed.

Chavez said a number of his players had been injured. Many of them were back for this game, but he said his team looked a bit rusty in the early going.

The injuries had affected Glendale somewhat in its two holiday tournament appearances, but the team still managed to have a decent showing.

“When everyone is healthy, we feel we have a very good team,’’ Chavez said.

He added that Independence appears to be improving and should be a factor in the state tournament.

Glendale goalkeepers Jesus Barron, Jose Martinez and Julian Duran kept Independence off the board until striker Steven Nessan scored with about seven minutes left in the match.