Fourteen-year-old freshman Emery Blair said her stomach was feeling a little twisty before Saturday’s state championship match.

By the second half, when her nerves dissipated and her team settled down as well, Blair had defenders going in circles.

A Blair has had a hand in helping Northland Prep reach fall soccer’s top high school showcase the last seven seasons. But unlike her five older sisters, Blair was the MVP in her first title appearance after scoring twice and adding an assist in her team’s 3-1 victory over Show Low at Westwood High.

“As a freshman?” Blair’s dad, Michael, Northland Prep’s co-head coach, asked almost in disbelief. “None of them (older sisters) have done that. She (Blair) has scored in every big game we’ve had, because she’s just a gamer. If you watch her in practice, you’re probably asking, ‘How is she even playing on our team?’ And then you watch her in a game, and she just tears it up. I’m super proud obviously as a coach. But as a dad, man, that was amazing.”

The soccer dynasty of Michael and co-head coach Keith Hovis were chasing their seventh fall title in the past eight years and third in a row. 
But unlike the last two championship years, Northland Prep started about eight freshmen and sophomores this season because of injuries. 

On Saturday, Show Low's (17-2-1) experienced squad was dictating the pace at first half while its tall defenders, Tatum Moore and Destiny Murphy, helped clog Northland Prep’s scoring lanes. Another tall Show Low player, Raquel Wilson, was in the right spot off a Sofie Ellis corner kick in the 14th minute for the game’s first goal.

Wilson’s tap in was her 15th goal of the year.

“I’m really proud of everyone,” Murphy said. “Even though it didn’t go as planned, it was still an amazing opportunity to play with these girls.”

In the second half, to start controlling possession, Northland Prep (20-2-1) added an extra player in the middle and started feeding Blair on the left.

“Emery wanted to go and eat that outside defender up, and she had lunch, dinner and breakfast,” Michael said.

For the appetizer, Virginia Vaughan got open in the box before passing to Blair, who took care of the rest after a short run at goal in the 46th minute.

Vaughan and Blair then switched roles in the 58th minute, when a step over set Blair free on the left before setting up Vaughan, who quickly angled a shot to the far post.

Leading 2-1, Blair added the icing when she eluded two defenders after receiving a pass from Vaughan with about 90 seconds left in the match.

Blair finished her freshman season with 18 goals and a hero’s celebration. She was lifted in the air by her teammates after the game.

“I just didn’t want to lose at all, and I told myself we weren’t going to,” Blair said.

Emery Blair was feeling sky-high after her second half performance and program’s three-peat. (Jose Garcia photo/AZPreps365)