Top-seeded Notre Dame Preparatory scored six goals and shut out No. 16 Shadow Ridge 6-0 to advance to the second round of the 2018 AIA Girls Soccer State Championships Tuesday night.

Shadow Ridge (11-10-1) made their first-ever state playoff appearance in program history. The Stallions fell short 1-0 to Verrado last season in the play-in game to reach the tournament.

NDP (17-2-1) got on the scoreboard early as senior Anna White scored on an assist from Luciana Garcia-Reifkohl in the second minute. Two minutes later, Garcia-Reifkohl scored a goal of her own to put the Saints up 2-0 early.

The Saints controlled possession much of the first half and saw a few shots nearly make their way to the back of the goal past Stallions goalkeeper Hannah Redwood.

The freshman keeper made a great play on White’s strike in the 22nd minute and was tested in the 27th minute as Alexa Clatt winded up for a kick. Redwood wasn’t done as another save in the 28th minute would keep the deficit at two.

“There are just a few things we need to shore up, keep getting her some work," said Stallions head coach John Gray. “I hope if she jumps out of her shell she’ll be a little bit more aggressive, a little more vocal. There’s time for that to happen, she’s got three more years.”

White, an Arizona State University commit, seemed to be everywhere where the ball was offensively. The midfielder had multiple shots on goal in the opening minutes and sent a good-looking ball that hooked just left of the crossbar in the 13th minute.  

“I think it was a good effort and it was one that was open. I didn’t see anything else so I think that was the best option at the time,” said White.

The final 40 minutes featured the same offensive pressure the Saints pushed on the Stallions in the first half. The visitors from Shadow Ridge held strong at 0-2 until Clatt kicked two rollers past Redwood in the 60th and 67th minutes to give the Saints a 4-0 advantage.

The Saints were offensively sound and got two late goals from Caitlin Redican and Meghan Pipitone to seal the deal. It was the defensive approach that helped the Saints give up only one shot on goal.

“Four seniors in the back line, those girls have seen everything,” said Saints head coach Tom White. “Experience has been a part of that and they don’t give up a lot of shots. I tell them to be aggressive and read the game.”

One senior, Jolie Bross, received high praise from her coach after the game. Tom White believes she’s having the best season of her high-school career. White also noted captain Hannah Osland’s consistency over her four years.

The Saints won back-to-back state championships in 2015 and 2016 with a handful of the current seniors on that roster.

“I think staying focused and keeping our eyes on the prize is the big factor leading into all of this,” said Anna White. “Last year I think we looked ahead too much and we lost in the state semis.”

Notre Dame Preparatory hits the field next against Campo Verde in the second round of the girls soccer state championships on Saturday, Feb. 3 at 2 p.m.