Edison LaCour is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism master’s student assigned to cover Notre Dame Preparatory High School for AZPreps365.com.

SCOTTSDALE – The No. 1 seed Notre Dame Prep Saints squared off with the No. 16 seed Canyon del Oro Dorados in the first round of the 4A state playoffs on Saturday, in a match that always felt closer than the final 4-1 score suggested.

Coming off five consecutive 9-0 victories, one glance at the halftime shot counter would have you think that the No. 1 seed Notre Dame Prep Saints were shifting into cruise control to start the second half.

Shots favored the Saints 17-1. Shots on target also tipped their way at 11-1. Play was largely held in the Canyon del Oro defensive third for the entirety of the half.

However, the No. 16 seed Dorados held their defensive shape, were opportune on the counter and had the Saints on the ropes in a 1-1 draw after 40 minutes.

“For our young team, I thought (our defense) was outstanding,” Canyon del Oro head coach William Bock said. “We came in with a gameplan to try and shut off their amazing attack and for our girls to dig in on their field on a hot day like they did, and stay focused and hold their shape very tight, I am really impressed with them.”

The Dorados defense did impress, and it led the way for chances on the counterattack.

In the 11th minute, after the Saints backline failed to collect a clearance, Dorado junior striker Elizabeth Walker pounced on the ball, outlasted another Saints defender on a 20-yard sprint into the box and put the Dorados in front with a low, driven effort into the bottom right corner.

“Our striker up top Lizzie is an amazing striker,” Bock said. "To get that early goal on a counter, which is what we talked about in practice, was quite pleasing."

It was the first goal that the Saints had given up since Dec. 30. The Dorados continued to hold their lines despite an onslaught of shots from Saints junior forward Annika Smith and senior midfielder Ella Osmussen.

Dorado sophomore goalkeeper Phoebe Knisley stood tall in goal with nine first -saves, including back-to-back saves on Smith in the 19th minute.

“We talked about a team that’s going to pack it in and challenge us to switch the point of attack,” Saints head coach Michael Varela said. “We knew a day like this was coming, but we just didn’t know when it was going to be. I’m proud of the way we composed ourselves and started playing the ball quicker.”

After conceding, the Saints focused their attack primarily down the wings. This change paid dividends and led to their first goal of the match.

Sophomore forward Ella Meyer whipped in a cross from the right wing and Smith rattled a shot off the crossbar that led to a scrum in front of goal. Adams was first to the ball and although her first shot was saved by Knisley, she tapped home the rebound to bring the Saints level.

Knisley emerged from the fray a bit dazed, receiving a bloody nose in the process.

“She took an arm to the face, but seemed to be fine,” Bock said. “Our keepers, we’ve always played two keepers. One half each, and they both have been amazing all season.”

Junior Kalyn Dooley entered in relief of the injured Knisley and had eight saves of her own.

The top-seeded Saints kicked it up a notch in the second half. After a great buildup along the right wing, Smith found Osmussen for the eventual game-winning goal shortly after halftime in the 45th minute.

“We saw an opportunity to break (their) lines and we did,” Osmussen said. “(Smith) had a great assist to me.”

The Saints would add two more second half goals to put away the Dorados for good. Freshman Whitney Reinhardt played a ball back for junior midfielder Mia McCabe, who unleashed a rocket from nearly 30 yards out for the Saints’ third goal in the 61st minute, leaving Dooley no chance.

Osmussen bagged her brace in the 67th minute for her team-leading 28th goal of the season, off a rebound from Adams to make it 4-1 for the Saints.

The Saints (10-0) will move on to play the No. 9 seed Sahuaro Cougars (8-1-3) at home Wednesday night in the quarterfinals. Varela is confident his girls will be ready to go.

“We know that iron sharpens iron,” Varela said. “We look at each other in practice and know that we have to push ourselves and be at our best even in training sessions, because we know we are going to get everybody else’s best.”