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Bobcats lay the lumber to Falcons Ailing Cash steps up for Cienega CDO's Finuf defends two titles Douglas rolls over Sahuarita in 4A-II Gila title gameFoothills' Voge not getting cocky about bid for fourth straight title Buena wins after 'tough decision' Lancers surrender lead, then rally to beat Lions Teammates at Buena headed for Wisconsin Cienega's Cash pays off on mound and with bat Marana opens key week with shutout

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Among the goals this season for the Marana girls soccer team was becoming a playoff contender, coach Dan Tarquin said.

After Tuesday's accomplishment, the Tigers — who beat Douglas 4-2 in a shootout to win the Palo Verde Invitational championship — appear to be on their way.

Marana won just seven games last season and has only three seniors this year, so the Palo Verde tournament title was a good place to start.

The Tigers have set a blazing pace by racing to a 12-1 record — easily their best start ever — and overcame two one-goal deficits against Douglas.

The score was 2-2 after regulation in the game at Palo Verde.

"I was begging for a shootout," said Tarquin, who was confident his team had the best goalkeeper in the tournament — Tori Stocker — who could help the Tigers claim the title.

Tarquin believed Stocker would lead Marana to the title, and he was right.

Stocker stuffed Douglas' first two attempts in the shootout — after recording two diving saves in the final 30 seconds of regulation — and then the sophomore set the tone for her team when she stepped out and scored Marana's first goal in the shootout.

"We're a strong team mentally and physically," Stocker said. "It seems like we can do anything now. We can win games."

The biggest factor in Marana's run to the title was its resilience in overcoming Douglas' two one-goal leads.

They exhibited a refusal to cave in — impressive considering Marana's lineup features eight sophomores who play significant roles.

Marana answered Douglas' first goal in the 44th minute when Sara Wilson, a sophomore, one-timed a throw-in from teammate Jade Carr into the back of the net.

Douglas took another lead in the 64th minute when Lina Campbell finished a goal just out of the reach of Stocker, but Marana answered again less than 30 seconds later.

The Tigers' Crystal Leon scored the game-tying goal in the 65th minute on a pass from Ashley Willoughby — both of whom are sophomores — to counter the Bulldogs' attack and force a shootout.

Once there, sophomores Stocker, Willoughby and Lauren Garcia and freshman Haley Laulusa all scored for Marana.

Still, the Tigers' biggest tests are ahead as well as a chance at reaching another preseason goal — beating Canyon del Oro, a perennial playoff team.

The Tigers are due to face Cienega, CDO and Catalina Foothills — a trio of the state's best teams — in three of their next four games.