Gorman, Arbor View seek to add to girls soccer legacies in 5A title match

The 2019 high school girls soccer season marked as a turning point for the changing of powers in the top classification for Southern Nevada teams.

Since 2019, Faith Lutheran and Coronado have been the top two Southern teams. Faith Lutheran has won four titles and appeared in every state title game since then, and Coronado has two titles with five title game appearances.

This year, there will be a new champion between a pair of girls soccer programs looking to add to their own legacies in the sport.

No. 1-seeded Bishop Gorman (20-2-1) faces No. 3 Arbor View (18-2-3) at 10 a.m. Saturday at Faith Lutheran for the Class 5A state championship.

Bishop Gorman’s back-to-back 4A titles in 2017 and 2018 were the last championships won by a team not named Faith Lutheran or Coronado in the top classification. Before that, Arbor View won five consecutive 4A titles from 2012 to 2016.

“(There’s) a lot of pride on these kids,” Gorman coach Doug Borgel said after the Gaels’ 5-3 penalty shootout win over Centennial in the state semifinals Wednesday night. “They know it’s been a long time (since Gorman last won). A few of them had a chance when they were freshmen and we weren’t really that good the last couple of years.

“To get back there this year and to be one of the better teams and know we have a chance is a good motivator. The credit goes to them. They’ve worked hard all season long. Now, the fruits of their labor are paying off and they get a shot for a state title.”

Arbor View coach Erica Peeples was a standout player with the Aggies where she was a three-time all-region player. Now, she will have a chance to deliver her alma mater its first title in a decade.

“It feels amazing,” Peeples said after the Aggies shutout Faith Lutheran 3-0 in their state semifinal win Wednesday night, denying the Crusaders of a third straight state title. “They’ve worked so hard to here and I couldn’t be prouder of them.

“This group of seniors, they’ve been working hard since their freshman year and they knew what they wanted. They built the foundation for this top happen, so they’re ready.”

Gorman and Arbor View emerged as the final two teams out of one of the most competitive girls soccer seasons in recent history. Gorman, Faith Lutheran and Arbor View were separated by one game in the final standings.

The Gaels’ 2-0 win over Arbor View on Sept. 28 was the last defeat for the Aggies, who have not lost a game in their last 10 matches (8-0-2). One of Arbor View’s wins was a 5-1 victory over Gorman on Oct. 21 in the Gaels’ regular-season finale.

Saturday will be an offensive test for both teams against the two top goalies in Southern Nevada. Gorman’s Lyvea Caceres and Arbor View’s Emily Marks each have posted 11 shutouts this season.

“We have to be our best no matter who we’re playing,” Peeples said. “We have to be switched on. We have to be ready. It’s going to be another battle. Every game we’ve prepared for this and the league play has felt like a state championship game.”

Contact Alex Wright at [email protected]. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.

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Who: Arbor View vs. Bishop Gorman

What: Class 5A girls soccer state championship game

When: 10 a.m. Saturday

Where: Faith Lutheran