Mesa High has played a significant part in state athletics with its long history and tradition. Football, basketball and wrestling have been highly successful sports to name a few. A sport to be honored Tuesday night is one the school helped play a role in inaugurating in the state three decades ago -- boys soccer.

The Mesquite boys soccer team knows how to rebound. The Wildcats bounced back from their first power-point game loss last Friday by stretching Gilbert to a shootout and prevailing, 3-2 (5-3), in a 5A Central Region match at Gilbert High.

Strikers Lopez, Quintana spark Cardinals to their 11th win in 15 matches.

Team was atop power-points list in Class 4A Division II entering the first week of 2011.

The Hamilton girls soccer team ended the 2010 portion of the 2010-2011 season with two invitational titles. Hamilton won the Diablo Classic three weeks ago. And the latest was acquired Friday morning with the Huskies 3-0 victory over Flagstaff to win the Dobson Mustang Soccer Classic at Dobson High.

Sixteen girls teams and 14 boys squads invade Mesa Monday through New Years Eve Day for the 2010 Dobson Mustang Soccer Classic at Red Mountain Park and Dobson High School.

Hard to lose when the other team does not score. The Central High boys soccer team came within two minuites of keeping the opposition scoreless in a pair of games Tuesday. With plenty of offense to go with that defense, Central won the 12th annual Jackrabbit Invitational, downing host Mesa High, 3-1, in the title game at Jackrabbit Stadium.

Hamilton fell just short of taking the 5A-I boys soccer title last year, dropping a 1-0 decision to Corona del Sol in the final. The Huskies were eliminated in the 5A-I semifinals on the girls side. If the start of the 2010-2011 season is any indication, both programs are aiming at another shot at a state title come February.

The pressure is off a bit but the competition will be fierce today through Saturday at the annual Diablo Soccer Tournament at the Tempe Sports Complex. Twenty boys teams and 16 girls teams lineup for at least three games and as many as six. Games do not\\\'t count in the power-point rankings so that does not play with the minds of coaches, but teams want to prevail just the same as it gives an early indication of where the power may be, particularly in 5A-I.

Both groups have won five state crowns since 2001-02.