By Don Ketchum

Looking for a girls soccer team that is capable of confounding the experts and wearing a contender’s jersey in an already-loaded section?

Look no further than Anthem Boulder Creek.

The Jaguars are off to a strong start in the Pride in Paradise Invitational at Phoenix Paradise Valley High, recording two shutouts, including a 4-0 domination of host Paradise Valley on Tuesday (Nov. 29).

It doesn’t take long to figure out why Boulder Creek is successful.

The players, many of whom built and refined their skills at the club level, are fundamentally sound. Their passes are on the mark most of the time, their defense is solid and they communicate well.

“We all play club. We understand the game. We know how to move the ball. We keep our heads in the game,’’ said Emily Paxton, one of three senior co-captains along with Catrina Hines and Lauryn Rasimas.

Paxton scored two goals against PV, Hines one and freshman Natalie Stephens one as the Jaguars pulled away. Sophomore goalkeeper Samantha Simpson didn’t have a lot of work to do, as her defensive teammates kept PV away from the goal most of the day.

“We have good technique. We work well as a team. We also have solid players on defense,’’ said Boulder Creek coach Lacey Chavez.

Under the Arizona Interscholastic Association’s latest realignment, Boulder Creek is in Division I, Section III, along with powerhouses Phoenix Xavier Prep, Phoenix Pinnacle, Phoenix Desert Vista, Scottsdale Desert Mountain, Scottsdale Chaparral and Phoenix Horizon.

“We have a lot of club players who have played with and against each other, so the girls know each other very well,’’ Chavez said. “If we are to compete, we have to do better at being a passing team. We have to nail that down. And we have to learn to never let up, play as hard as we possibly can.’’

Paxton epitomizes that approach. The University of Colorado recruit enjoys dueling opponents in the corners and trying to dig the ball out.

“I just like the aggressiveness of it, being physical,’’ she said.

The Jaguars are going to need to play with that mindset if they are to survive. Who knows? That contender’s jersey could fit quite nicely.