Canyon Del Oro senior midfielder Ronald Tadoum on his team’s game plan going into Saturday’s state soccer tournament contest against Prescott: “We didn’t know them at all, so we wanted to come out and give 100 percent, and play our game,” he said.
The Dorados did just that, winning 4-0. If Prescott didn’t know Tadoum at the start of the game, he was certainly a presence by game’s end.
Tadoum was all over the field Saturday, snatching key steals, using his 6-1 frame to prevent the opposition from gaining position and momentum, and often sacrificing his body on the artificial turf at Tucson High School. On offense, he was just as effective, advancing the ball with smart passing and quick footwork, and making a key assist to senior forward Nick Marshall in the second period to give CDO a 2-0 lead.
“I’m a senior, so this is my last year,” said Tadoum. “I want to come out and play hard and get that trophy.
“That’s all I want,” he added. “To try to help my team.”
CDO head coach Josh Marshall thinks Tadoum has been successful.
“Ronald is a phenomenal player,” said Marshall. “He works hard, always at practice, never complains.”
The only complaining involving Tadoum on Saturday came from a frustrated Prescott forward, who pointed at Tadoum and stated loudly to teammates “… we’ve gotta keep the ball on the ground, we’ll never win this in the air, look how big this guy is!”
Tadoum, who hopes to take that disruptive style of play to Europe after graduation, is focused on the Dorados’ next challenge, a semifinal contest against Sabino, one of only two teams to defeat them this season, at 7 p.m. Thursday.
The senior and his teammates will be looking for “revenge,” according to Tadoum, and his coach is sure Tadoum will be ready.
“He always gets the job done,” said Marshall with a grin. “He could be dead on the field, and he’ll get the job done.”
