Verrado’s girls soccer program drew the No. 2 state seed again this season, but unlike last year the girls were carrying some extra weight on their shoulders when the Division III tournament started.

The pressure is a result of shocking Catalina Foothills in the D-III final last year, doing so with a notable defensive performance.

But in its first round state game Tuesday, Verrado went on the offensive against a well-conditioned Sunnyslpe team that was playing its second playoff game in as many nights. Sunnyslope participated in a mini-playoff game against Sunrise Mountain Monday for the right to play Verrado as the 15^th seed.

Despite playing 50 minutes after its 1-0 win against Sunrise Mountain, Sunnyslope played toe-to-toe with Verrado. But Verrado found just enough open spots to walk away with a 3-0 home win.

“Sunnyslope did a fantastic job of putting pressure on us,” Verrado coach David Hopkinson said. “There was no let up. Credit Sunnyslope. They came in and battled.”

But breaking through Verrado’s stout defense, including last year’s title game standout, goalkeeper Shea Smith, again won’t be easy for this year’s playoff opponents.

Verrado’s three goals were scored by three different players. Junior Kaitlyn May broke free on the left side for the team’s first goal, firing a shot to the far side netting to help settle her team at the four minute mark of the game. Foreign exchange student Sandra Christianson of Sweden followed with a left-footed rocket about 12 minutes later from about 22-yards.

Freshman Jessica Farmer also scored from distance when her high shot went off the goalkeeper in the 49^th minute. Up next for Verrado is a Saturday 2 p.m. quarterfinal match against section foe Raymond S. Kellis, which lost to Verrado 3-0 on Jan. 20.

At 19-3, Sunnsylope finished its season with its best record in the program’s 20-year history.

“We have four amazing seniors (Lizzy Hanson, Sarai Andrade, Karina Velasco, Kate Amilpas), and great group of juniors,” said Sunnsylope’s longtime coach Mike Fenton. “We have a great future ahead of us.”