Anytime Perry's girls soccer team draws first blood --  especially somewhat early -- coach Garald DeGrow likes his team's chances.

The Pumas got the match's first goal in the 19th minute and the defense did its thing the rest of the way in a 2-0 victory over Millenniumon Tuesday night  in the first round of the Division I state soccer  tournament at Highland High School.

Perry (11-3-2), the No. 8 seed, advances to Saturday's quarterfinals and takes on the Pinnacle-Corona del Sol winner at 2 p.m. Millennium, which was seeded No. 9 seed, had its season end with a 15-4 record.

Perry was able to rely on its defense after tallying midway through the first half. Freshman midfielder Lauren Hawley sent a cross that senior Jensen Gorton tapped home for the 1-0 lead. The Pumas took that lead to intermission, but had one scare when Millennium's failed to find the back of the net in the 29th minute deep in the Perry box with Perry's keeper out of position after a scramble.

DeGrow told his team from the sideline they were fortunate not to have given up that goal. They rewarded him with solid play the final 50 minutes.

"Our philosophy is defense wins games, and we work up from there," DeGrow said. "That first goal was big. Lauren had just subbed in 10 seconds before and got us that nice cross."

Millennium put the pressure on in the second half as Perry fell back content to win 1-0. Perry got its extra goal in the 73rd minute when Millennium thought a possession call went its way and began pushing up. The call, however, went for Perry and the Pumas quickly made a throw in and got a breakway with junior Ansley Warner manuevering nearly half the field and delivering the clinching goal. Millennium coach John Shalongo aruged with the head official after the play and discussed it again afterward. 

"I checked with the head judge twice to confirm," DeGrow said. "We passed it in quickly. I know they were upset. There seemed to be confusion from their side, so if I was them I would have argued, too."