No. 2 Buckeye Verrado squad (12-0) won their first state soccer championship last year after taking the powerful Tucson Catalina Foothills program to penalty kicks (4-3) and it looks like another heroic effort will have to be put forward again this year.

From top to bottom, the higher skill level has produced parity and excitement among the top seeds. No. 1 Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep (12-0)  has No. 4 Scottsdale Cactus Shadows (12-0) and No. 5 Catalina Foothills (10-0-2) in their half of the bracket and Verrado has No. 3 Tucson High (10-0-2) and No. 6 Tucson Sahuaro (9-0-3) in their half.

You would have to go all the way down to No. 7 Phoenix Arcadia (11-1) to find a team with a league loss but then No. 8 Yuma Kofa (12-0) completes the cycle of the undefeated teams.  That's one loss between the top eight seeds. No other division can stake that claim so hold onto your seat.

Can Verrado repeat? According to head coach David Hopkinson it will depend on how well his athletes continue to respond to the pressure.

"We had a couple of injuries to girls who played significant roles last year and were expected to start this year," explained Hopkinson. "Our team has done an excellent job of filling those roles. 

"We also had to play with the pressure of being the state champions. We got every team's best shot. I have been really proud of the way the girls have handled themselves this year. They could have easily become complacent after last year but they have continued to work hard and would like to make it back to the championship game again."

Notre Dame Prep hasn't been in the final in four years but second-year coach Thomas White has produced a competitive team built on a mixture of experience on the pitch.

"We have very good upperclassmen leadership on the field which helps with having 10 freshmen on the varsity level," said White.

"I would say the biggest accomplishment this year is the learning curve given to the returners in leading the underclassmen into the program and setting a tone for the entire year.  We are very excited about the undefeated season as well.  We have only given up two goals on the season and scored 63 ourselves."

Only a junior, keeper Meredith Reinhardt is generally regarded as one of the best in Arizona regardless of class size. With over three saves a game, opponents will have to come up with more shots than they are used to if they want to get one past her.

One of the teams capable of producing tons of attempts is Catalina Foothills. Even though Charlie Kendrick has retired, the Falcons still have eight championships and they return senior Emily Parker (26 goals). Parker peppered the crossbar several times in the loss to Verrado last year.