The Pumas (22-2) square off against the Gators (15-3-2) for the second time this season in the state championship at Campo Verde High School this Saturday. Perry is in search for their first title, meanwhile Xavier is just trying to add more hardware to their storage.

Both teams are coming off tight semi-final finishes. Perry beat Pinnacle in an “exhausting”  1-1 thriller, credited by a clutch  penalty kick goal from Jackie Gilbert (Sr.), that clinched Championship birth. Meanwhile Xavier narrowly defeated Hamilton 1-0, to meet Perry in the state finals.

The teams first match-up with each other this season was not a close one by any means. The Pumas won commandingly 3-0 at home by goals from Logan VanDine (Sr.), Natalie Duffy (So.), and Annika Sandstedt (Jr.).

Even though the Pumas won soundly, they are still not getting the credit they deserve from their critics. AZPreps365.com has Xavier first in their power rankings, while Perry follows in at second.

When varsity head coach, John Roberts, was asked if the recent snub for top rank would provide extra motivation for Saturday’s game he deferred. “I don’t know if there’s extra motivation, but that puts a lot of pressure on Xavier, because you have to fulfill your number.”

The two top dogs of the 6A conference enter the championship game in the top 50 ranked teams in the country. The Pumas are ranked at an elite 15th spot, meanwhile the Gators are placed at a respectable 45th position.

Perry is scoring, and scoring a lot. The team is responsible for 121 goals this season, while 16.5% of them are credited to the star sophomore Brenna Alderson, who has also won Player of the Game on four separate occasions this year.

Not only does Perry score rapidly, but they defend like there is no tomorrow as well. The squad has remarkably only allowed 12 goals against opponents, due mostly from the outstanding play of their esteemed goalkeeper Makayla Aman (Sr.), who is ranked as the best goalie in the state of Arizona.

Xavier has a star of their own that should cause Perry a handful of problems this coming Saturday. Kyla Ferry (So.) who leads the Gators with 19 goals and 12 assists, causes absolute havoc on opposing defenses due to her scoring and passing abilities.

The coaching staff of Xavier is nothing to underestimate as well. “We’re gonna get an organized team. They’re a well coached team, so it should be a pretty good match to watch”, said coach Roberts.

The winner of the 6A Conference Tournament will be decided February 10th at 11:00 A.M. at Campo Verde High School in Gilbert, Arizona.