Highland keeper Ashley March had a glowing look on her face.

Expected since her team had just won its first state soccer championship with a triumph in a shootout over defending champion Hamilton. And perhaps the glow had a little to do with sunburn from the toasty afternoon that included regulation, two 10-minute overtimes, two five-minute overtimes and finally the shootout.

But listening to  March talk about the harrowing last  few minutes and the role she played it was hard to imagine her sentiments being any different had the outcome gone the other way.

March saved two Hamilton penalty-kick attempts in the shootout that were the difference in Highland defeating Hamilton for the 2012 Division I girls soccer title at Camp Verde High School. Final score was 1-1 with Highland the winner in PKs, 4-2

How did March explain her performance in the shootout? Luck or skill?

Well, it's a little bit of both," March said. "You try to read the shooter and you have to guess right. I wasn't really nervous. Just excited. It's the most fun I've ever had."

The teams were tied 1-1 after the regulation 80 minutes and 30 additional minutes of overtime periods. March was the first to get a chance to defend a PK and saved the attempt by Hamilton's Rachel Shedd. After that save Highland and Hamilton alternated makes with Highland getting makes from Caroline Stosz, Cassidy Ogden and Molly Celler and Hamilton successes from Kylie Miniefield and Lindy Snyder..

That left Highland up in PKs, 3-2, with each team having their fourth player attempt a PK. March's second save denied Hamilton's Gabby Martinez.  That meant if Highland tri-captain Ashley Hatch converted her attempt, the marathon would be over. Hatch did just that going top shelf past Hamilto'sn standout keeper Laura Glew.

Hamilton (22-4) claimed its first girls title last year in what was a gradual ascent over the years. Highland now knows how it is to gradually climb and conquer.

"Hamilton's an amazing team," March said. "We had to earn it. I couldn't ask for a better group of girls to compete with. It couldn't have ended any better."

Highland coach John Berzins, who counts any match his team plays that goes to PKs as a tie, stayed true to his word for this one.

"Yep this is recorded as a tie," Berzins said. "But we'll take that gold trophy for it. This has been a long time coming for this program. They worked hard for this.

Highland (20-1-4) had to rally from a 1-0 deficit after the first half. Hamilton took its 1-0 lead in the 24th minute when freshman Riana Metzger scored on a header off an assist from Meaghan Pasbring. Highland, which came out a little more aggressive at the offensive end early in the first half, really didn't mount much after that.

At least not until the 64th minute when Highland's assist leader, Jaden DeGracie, displayed her specialty -- the flip thrown in. Flip throw-ins have been a huge chunk of her 41 assists this season and that was the case as she heaved one near the goal-mouth that junior Paige Morris headed in to knot the match.

"As much as this hurts, we'll reflect on it and be back,"Mark Eggleston, Hamilton's  first-year coache, said. "They are good with the throw ins. It's a strength and they''re right to play it. We had some chances, some in overtime that didn't go.  I''m proud of these girls. Getting used to a new coach, new teammates, a new system. They did great. Our goal is we expect to be in the hunt, have the chance to be here every year."