Defending champion Fountain Hills was outplayed and outshot in the first half of Tuesday's Division III girls soccer semifinal vs. Northwest Christian, but despite that the match was scoreless heading to the final 40 minutes.

Responding like a championship team should, Fountain Hills coach Alison Mabery watched her squad regroup with a strong second half that earned the No. 3 seed Lady Falcons a 2-0 triumph over the No. 2  Lady Crusaders at Arcadia High School.

Fountain Hills (19-2) gets a shot at its second consecutvie D-III crown on Friday (Feb. 13) afternoon at 5 at Campo Verde High School. Fountain Hills will take on top seed Walden Grove, a 2-0 winner over Rio Rico in the late semifinal played in Tucson. Northwest Christian finished 21-3 going two rounds deeper than it did in postseason the prior two years.

Fountain Hills forward Leah Carillo, the team's top scorer, notched her 35th goal of the season three minutes into the second half to break the scoreless tie. Carillo got a nice touch pass from Sierra Jarriel and promptly drilled her shot from 20 yards out to the far post. Carillo has scored at least one goal in seven consecutive state tournament matches dating back to last season. Her goal started what was a reversal of fortune as Fountain Hills got the better of possession and chances in the second half. Jarriel's assist was her 23rd of the year, tying for the team lead.

Mabery didn't have any magic words for her team at intermission. The teams met the first week December in an invitational to start the season. and Fountain Hills rallied twice from a goal down to win 3-2. This time they weren't battling from behind. 

"All day it had been an off-day," Mabery said. "We didn't start fast and played the first half with the sun in our eyes. We came out of it OK. We ust needed to do what we do best. Play defense, get to the 50-50 balls and run, run, run."

Fountain Hills had more hop in its step the final 40 minutes, particularly with the shot of adrenalin provided by Carillo's quick goal. The Lady Falcons also got a boost the first half from keeper sophomore keeper Charlotte Tornee, who hauled in a half dozen shots struck on frame to keep NWC off the board. It was the 13th shutout of the season for Tornee. None bigger than this one since it was the only time this year NWC was blanked by an opponent.

NWC got a run from Makenna Barton in the 72nd minute, but her shot was gathered in by the consistent Tornee. About a minute later, Fountain Hills sealed the outcome via a free kick. Sophomore Courtney Dunham sailed the shot some 35 yards perfectly top shelf for the final 2-0 edge.