Kyle Betz is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover North High School for AZPreps365.com.

PHOENIX -- In an affair that featured five shot attempts from Mustang senior forward Myah Bacon, North High School girls soccer was unable to find the back of the net in a 0-0 draw against Trevor G. Browne High School on Monday night.

Two of Bacon’s shots were on target — one of which came off a counter- attack in a one-on-one opportunity that was saved with a minute left in regulation.

“It’s super frustrating,” Bacon said of the missed chances. “This game, I felt obligated to really do well. But at the end of the day, we tied — that’s better than a loss and I’ll take that any day.”

In extra time, the Mustangs (2-7-2) had a couple chances within the 18-yard box but failed to register a shot on goal.

Led by senior co-captain Giselle Salinas, North’s back four was, however, able to put together a clean sheet. Sophomore Frida Dominguez and junior Kimberli Flores each played one half and tallied two saves apiece to silence the Bruins’ attack.

Despite the scoreless result, it marked a vast improvement for the Mustangs, who were defeated by the Bruins (6-2-4) by a score of 8-0 in the PXU Girls Soccer Tournament on Nov. 29.

North head coach Francisco Alvarez credited the improvement of team chemistry as a factor in the draw. “For us, it’s been a really challenging season with just three seniors,” Alvarez said. “Enormous amount of growth, learning and improvement for a very young team.”

North was able to win twice last week and draw on Monday to end its 2021-22 campaign on an upbeat note after a jarring 0-7-1 start. With seven juniors and seven underclassmen ranking behind Bacon, Salinas and senior midfielder Hazel Villatoro on the roster, Alvarez said the leadership of the three seniors allowed the team to finish on a high note.

“They brought in different personalities, different skill sets — I’m going to miss them,” Alvarez said. “One of the main points the seniors actually were able to add to the team is their teaching and their experience to share with a lot of young players.”

In the meantime, the high school careers of the senior trio are over. Bacon, however, said having the opportunity to bond with teammates and play four years of soccer at North is bigger than any result on the scoreboard.

“Knowing that it’s over, that’s where it hit me the most,” Bacon said. “I’m so grateful to have met everyone, to have played with them. Whether the score is 0-0, 2-0 or we lost, it doesn’t matter. This is my family.”

While veteran leadership will be missed, Alvarez is hopeful the younger student-athletes will continue to grow before next winter season starts.

“It feels good to see that they’re getting it and that it’s preparation for next season,” Alvarez said. “We played versus really, really tough programs. I think that’s one of the reasons why they were able to share the field against some really good players and really good teams.”

Both Trevor G. Browne and North’s seasons are over. The teams finished second and third in the 6A Metro division standings, respectively. 

Maryvale High School finished first in the division with an 8-3-1 record.