Division II Girls Soccer State Championship
Who: No. 1 Cactus Shadows vs. No. 3 Catalina Foothills
When: 10:30 a.m. Saturday
Where: Campo Verde High School (3780 S. Quartz St., Gilbert)
Outlook: Catalina Foothills has won five state championships in the past seven seasons. Cactus Shadows never played a girls soccer state title match until now. Foothills could do it again, but if Cactus Shadow gets GK Cassie Miller back, watch out. Miller missed most of this state tournament while at a U.S.A. Soccer U17 national camp. She's a difference-maker. Sabrina Majerczyk scored twice in the semifinals for the Falcons, and the Falcons will beat teams over the top. Foothills beats teams by controlling clock and possessing the ball (Jenna Glad is their best player up front). Experience goes to Foothills for sure, but Cactus Shadows has come this far, could get its stud GK back and has done everything to earn the No. 1 seed and this spot. If Jeff Vittorio's team can relax in this environment, the Falcons are capable of a couple goals, and that's more than enough if Miller returns.
Mark Heller is the East Valley Tribune sports editor. He can be reached at mheller@evtrib.com or (480) 898-6576.
