Glendale Cactus girls soccer coach Kraig Day tells his players that “the best goal is the first goal. It helps put pressure on the other team.’’

The Cobras did that and then some, scoring four unanswered goals in the first half and adding three more in the second half for a 7-2 victory over Phoenix Country Day School on Tuesday (Jan. 29) in a first-round match of the Division III state tournament at Buckeye Verrado.

Cactus (14-4-2), the No. 7 seed, advances to the second round on Saturday (Feb. 2), traveling to Tucson to face No. 2 Tucson Palo Verde, a 4-2 winner over No. 15 Gilbert Higley.  Phoenix Country Day School, the No. 10 seed, finished at 12-3-1.

It didn’t take long, only 1:03, for Cactus to establish itself. Micaela Pike put the ball into the net from the right side.

The Cobras were just warming up on the chilly afternoon.

Carlie Macy scored off a corner kick to make it 2-0 with 31:27 left in the first half. Ashley Duran scored the first of her two goals with 24:36 left, and Sophia Curiel scored with 2:41 left to make it 4-0.

Cactus again scored somewhat quickly to begin the second half, with Duran taking a nice pass from a teammate and scoring with 36:13 left for a 5-0 edge.

Phoenix Country Day finally got on the board with 34:46 showing when Margaret Loncki scored on a free kick. The Eagles pulled a bit closer at 5-2 at 21:46 on Remi Edwards’ goal off a deflection of her own shot.

Cactus came back to score two more times, on Jennifer Douthitt’s goal on a penalty kick with 8:41 to go and Nikki Griffith’s goal off another deflection with 4:20 left.

“Our defense did a great job tracking the ball down and not allowing the other team to get too close to the goal,’’ Day said.

He believes his team is starting to play some of its best soccer at just the right time.

“For the last few weeks, you could see the little pieces start to come together here and there,’’ he said.