Arizona
Arizona soccer finishes pre-conference slate with victory over New Mexico State
Most of Arizona’s wins have been blowouts, but the Wildcats finished their pre-conference slate the same way they started it—with a 1-0 victory. This time it was New Mexico State that was the victim.
The Wildcats finally took the field at home in Mulcahy Soccer Stadium after three road games. Thursday night’s contest was their only match this week. It was also their lone homestand in a seven-game stretch that has them return to the road for three conference games starting Thursday, Sept. 12.
Arizona took the lead in the 19th minute when senior Nyota Katembo knocked a shot into the air. It didn’t go into the net, but it found fellow senior Marley Chappel just in front of the net. Chappel put it in to score her first goal of the season and just the second in her career. She last scored during her freshman year against Texas Tech.
“Honestly, I was definitely more there for just reassurance purposes,” Chappel said. “I think (Katembo) did a lot of the hard work, but I think collectively, it was a good goal between the three forwards up top. I think we figured out some good movements, and I was there for her second ball, and it worked out. But that’s what happens in soccer.”
That work between the players—forwards, midfielders, and defenders—is leading to more success this season. Last year, Arizona had a total of four assists through its first seven matches. It has a whopping 13 this year. Chappel has accounted for two of them and Katembo had her first against the Aggies.
Working together has led to more scoring, in general. Chappel’s goal gave the Wildcats 16 this season. They had 12 through seven games last year.
“I think playing with everybody’s strength and knowing our teammate’s strength and weakness just helps us be better in the final third,” Katembo said. “Which balls are better for certain people, if you want it in the space or at your feet, I think we can recognize that way easier.”
The Wildcats did not have as much offensive success in the second half.
“I think our first half was strong, and I think our second half, they made some good adjustments,” Moros said. “It was tight to play through. They were jumping on all the through balls that we were trying to slip into kind of our intermediate line between their midfield and their back line, and they were picking those balls off. So we had an opportunity to adjust there where I think we can get better from that when we look at it on film, and I think we’re well prepared going into conference.”
Despite the diminished offensive success in the latter half, the Wildcats still outperformed their opponent. They had 13 shots to five for the Aggies. Six of Arizona’s shots were on goal while NMSU had three on goal.
UA also had more corner kicks than its opponent for the first time since Aug. 22 against NAU. The difference was just one (6 to 5), but it was positive for a team that has given up 37 corners this year while only taking 28.
The defense kept up its end of the bargain to keep a clean sheet after the offense put the team in front.
“We’re still young in the backline, but I think they’re doing a really good job just maintaining and just managing the game whenever we’re up 1-0,” Katembo said.
Two of those young defenders who helped maintain the lead were Zoe Mendiola and Kennedy Fletcher. Both were making their second straight starts. Unlike Mendiola, Fletcher didn’t play the entire game, but she was in there at crunch time.
“Kennedy’s confidence and ability to communicate, especially as a freshman, she’s not intimidated by anything,” Moros said. “She knows the game well, and she’s willing to share information. Very proactive. She plays center back, so she has those good organizational skills. She understands the backline shape really well, so she can help out and compact space at critical moments, force play in the right directions, so that even if the other team gets opportunities they are not as good opportunities as they could be. And she’s very confident on the ball, so she can play out of the back really well. Good in the air, just an all-around, really quality player. Has really good maturity for a very young player.”
Fletcher and Mendiola have broken through. They are not only getting playing time but starting now. Other freshmen are getting considerable time on the field even if they aren’t part of the starting 11. With only one game this week, Moros thinks it’s a good time for those who haven’t broken through to show what they can do as the team gets additional time for training.
“Oh, thank God, we have training,” Moros said. “Pretty much just last week, we’re like, well, we’ve got six training sessions this season that aren’t a match day minus one or a match day plus. So a match day minus one is a taper day. You’re getting ready for a game. Match day plus one, you’re recovering from the day before. Those aren’t real training days. And with the Thursday, Sunday, Thursday, Sunday, Thursday, Sunday, you don’t train. So this weekend is the first time we get to train, basically since preseason. So the team is looking forward to it. We’re looking forward to it. The players who haven’t cracked into the lineup, they’re dying for that opportunity, as well.”
Lead photo by Marison Bilagody / Arizona Athletics
Don’t miss these 5 metro Phoenix hidden gem restaurants
From Ethiopian cuisine to mesquite-grilled chicken, check out these five restaurants in metro Phoenix that have flown under the radar for too long.
A former candidate for Gilbert mayor has opened the first Arizona location of a Founding Fathers-themed ice cream shop in Chandler.
Brooker’s Founding Flavors Ice Cream is a Utah-based ice cream shop centered around the early history of the United States. Female employees scoop cones in bonnets and dresses; male employees wear tricorn hats and coats. The ice cream flavors have names like Martha Washington’s Colonial Cotton Candy and Alexander Hamilton’s Not Throwing Away My Scoop.
On a trip to Utah in 2019, Arizonan Shane Krauser went to a Brooker’s and was blown away.
“I walked out of that, called my wife Janelle and I said, ‘We will own one of these,’” Krauser said.
The couple had no previous restaurant experience, but decided to open up the chain’s first location outside of Utah, choosing a storefront near the intersection of Chandler Boulevard and Dobson Road. The store opened on June 6.
Krauser loves how the shop creates conversation among customers about American history.
“I love history. I love the Founding Fathers. I love the ideals of America,” Krauser said. “It’s an amazing concept.”
Opening Founding Flavors isn’t political, it’s a ‘labor of love’
Krauser is a retired lawyer turned motivational speaker who addresses topics including “freedom, the proper role of government and the parameters of the U.S. and state constitutions,” according to his website.
In 2024, Krauser ran for Gilbert mayor, but withdrew his candidacy amid scrutiny over involvement with a past investment fraud scheme and his son’s appearance in a video with the Gilbert Goons, The Arizona Republic reported.
Although the shop plans to host events celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S., such as one for Constitution Day in September, Krauser said he does not see the ice cream store as related to his political career.
“The mayoral run was something to be involved in politically. This is more of a labor of love,” Krauser said. “This is not political in nature at all. It’s an ice cream shop with an American theme.”
Details: 2560 W. Chandler Blvd. #3, Chandler. brookersicecream.com, 480-881-6100.
Reach the reporter at reia.li@gannett.com. Follow @reia_reports on Instagram.
Arizona CEO accused of stealing millions
Jeffrey Gottfurcht, the now-former CEO of Mesa startupo Cyber Dive, is accused of stealing at least $1.5 million from the company to buy gifts for his girlfriend. FOX 10’s Brian Webb has more.
PHOENIX – An Arizona chief executive officer is facing major legal trouble after being accused of embezzling money from his company.
What we know:
Cyber Dive is an Arizona startup that sells child-safety smartphones, designed so parents can monitor their children’s online activity. The company is run out of a business complex in Mesa, but the startup is barely hanging on after the CEO allegedly took off with the money to spend on his girlfriend.
Jeffrey Gottfurcht is facing federal embezzlement charges. He stands accused of lying and doctoring documents to trick investors before running off with at least $1.5 million.
On the company Facebook page, Gottfurcht claimed to be the first rheumatoid arthritis sufferer to scale Mount Everest.
Local perspective:
Red flags first popped up at the company on Feb. 13, with strange occurrences coming into the office.
Derek Jackson, who co-founded Cyber Dive, recalled the moment the discrepancies came to light.
“They mentioned to me something about getting routing documentation for funds from an acquisition deal,” Jackson recounted. “They said ‘where are those documents?’ He said he was gonna send him at 3 p.m. today, and my response was what deal are you talking about?”
Dig deeper:
Court documents show Gottfurcht used the money to buy his escort girlfriend a Lamborghini, a four-bedroom house in Miami, and a diamond ring. The girlfriend has posted videos on TikTok, but her identity is hidden because she has not been charged with a crime.
When asked to confirm if Gottfurcht purchased the car, the diamond ring, and the house, Jackson responded, “Yes. So it gets deep. Yes, it gets very deep.”
“It’s a huge gut punch,” Jackson said regarding the impact on the startup. “I think it’s been challenging to stay motivated to keep the company going because when this happened, Jeff drained the account to zero.”
At the Cyber Dive headquarters, half the workforce was let go. Jackson is now serving as the interim chief executive officer, looking for new investors to keep the lights on while coming to grips with the loss of a partner and friend.
Jackson stated that the total amount of money taken is closer to $4 million.
“I was in the army. I was an intelligence officer. I was targeting people in ISIS. I don’t even hate terrorists as much as I hate Jeff right now,” Jackson said.
The other side:
No one answered the door at the Paradise Valley home Gottfurcht shares with his wife and three children. Court paperwork shows that his wife is seeking a divorce, and helped turn her husband in to the authorities.
What’s next:
Gottfurcht was previously arrested in Scottsdale in May over allegations of domestic violence. He remains behind bars on a $250,000 bond.
The Source: Information in this report was gathered from Derek Jackson, and from court documents.
Arizona
NAU launches first-of-its-kind engineering degree to fast-track Arizona’s future workforce – The NAU Review
As Arizona’s semiconductor and advanced manufacturing industries continue to grow at a rapid pace, Northern Arizona University’s Steve Sanghi College of Engineering is launching a new degree program designed to help meet the state’s workforce needs.
Beginning this fall, NAU will offer a Bachelor of Professional Studies in Engineering Technology, a flexible, workforce-focused degree pathway that prepares students for careers in microelectronics, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing in as little as three years. The 90-credit bachelor’s degree creates a more accessible pathway into engineering careers through a hands-on, applied curriculum and a streamlined transfer model with Arizona community colleges.
The program follows a 45-45 completion structure, allowing students to complete 45 credits at a community college and 45 credits through NAU. Courses will be delivered through synchronous remote instruction at NAU’s North Valley campus in Phoenix and at Pima Community College in Tucson, increasing access for statewide students.
Addressing Arizona’s growing semiconductor workforce
Designed with workforce readiness in mind, the program emphasizes practical engineering application, systems implementation, testing, quality control, systems analysis, manufacturing, fabrication, process control and project management. Students will gain technical and problem-solving skills aligned with the needs of Arizona’s rapidly evolving manufacturing economy.
“This new bachelor’s degree empowers students to identify real-world engineering challenges and develop practical solutions,” said James Palmer, associate dean for academic affairs at the Steve Sanghi College of Engineering. “We are creating a more accessible pathway into engineering careers while preparing graduates to support Arizona’s growing microelectronics and semiconductor industry.”
Arizona has emerged as one of the nation’s fastest-growing semiconductor hubs, with more than $200 billion in semiconductor-related investments announced in the Greater Phoenix region since 2020, including expansions from Intel, TSMC and Amkor Technology. TSMC alone has committed up to $165 billion toward Arizona operations, including multiple fabrication plants and advanced packaging facilities expected to create thousands of technical and manufacturing jobs.
Industry demand continues to grow for professionals with applied engineering and advanced manufacturing skills in areas such as process engineering, manufacturing systems, equipment operations and yield enhancement. NAU’s new degree program was developed to help students quickly enter these high-demand career fields while supporting Arizona’s long-term economic growth and domestic semiconductor manufacturing capacity.
The program also aligns with NAU’s strategic commitment to expanding access to affordable, student-centered educational opportunities that prepare graduates for meaningful careers and long-term success.
Students interested in learning more about the Bachelor of Professional Studies in Engineering Technology program should contact SCE@nau.edu.
-
Movie Reviews2 minutes agoThe Beautifully Handcrafted Rose of Nevada Is a Ghost Story Like No Other
-
World12 minutes agoOn the South Lawn, a UFC fighter’s victory frames an unusual White House scene
-
Politics24 minutes agoVideo: Demining the Strait of Hormuz
-
Health39 minutes agoVideo: Wii Bowling Takes Over Tulsa Retirement Homes
-
Lifestyle54 minutes ago
This Pride month, teen flicks are recasting familiar tropes with a queer sensibility
-
Technology1 hour agoNASA selects Eric Schmidt’s rocket company for a 2028 mission to Mars
-
World1 hour agoBritish Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces potential leadership challenge from newly-elected Andy Burnham
-
Politics1 hour agoReporter’s Notebook: How Trump’s surprise move on DNI confirmation upended key Senate deal on FISA
