The initial AIA soccer rankings will be released in two weeks (Jan. 10) and it’s a safe bet the Sahuarita Mustangs will be near the top of the 4A Conference mix with a 6-1 record overall and a 4-0 record in power-ranking matches. Sahuarita beat 3A power Sabino 8-1 Friday evening with standout Samantha Wright scoring four goals in the match.

Wright picked up her 100th career goal in an 8-0 win over Pueblo on Thursday night so she is sitting with 104 career goals and counting. It was her 19th hat trick in her career and her 12th match with four or more goals. Her totals include 23 goal made during the shortened 2020-2021 season due to COVID restrictions. Had she had a full COVID year, the senior might have been on pace to break the state record of 163 career goals set by former Palo Verde standout Jackie Igulu from 2014 to 2017.

Her teammate, and fellow senior Rylee Arrington, scored a goal in the win over Sabino, giving her 54 goals in her career and 14 on the year. Wright scored in the 8th minute to put Sahuarita up 1-0 and then Madison Carter scored in the 23rd to make it 2-0. Sabino standout Athena Huggins scored a minute later to make it 2-1 at the break.

Freshman Zophia Martinez scored in the 42nd minute to make it 3-1 and then Wright scored in the 44th to make it 4-1 and the scores kept coming at that point. Arrington took a Wright offering in the 48th, Wright picked up her hat trick in the 56th, Wright found Madisyn Cole in the 70th minute and Wright got her fourth goal with 3:45 left in the match.

Sabino moved to 3-3 overall and 2-1 in ranking matches. The Sabercats finished in second place in the 3A Conference last year but the team lost four contributing seniors to graduation. The Sabercats will travel to play Rio Rico (1-2) Monday and Sahuarita is slated to visit Cholla (1-0) Tuesday night.