Jackie Igulu set a single-season state-record 62 goals last year while leading Palo Verde to a 23-2 record and a runner-up finish in the Division III final. The senior striker is on pace to break that mark this year with 37 goals scored in only 12 matches.

Besides averaging more than a hat trick every time she steps on the pitch, Igulu broke her own record for goals scored in a game when she put six shots in the net against Cholla on Dec. 22. Even better, that double hat trick also gave her the state record for goals in a career.

Former Titan Jasmine Stokes scored 137 goals in her career at Palo Verde and Igulu is sitting at 145 and counting after scoring five on Wednesday in the opening round of the Palo Verde Invitational.

Stokes scored two goals to pace Palo Verde to a 5-2 win over Sunnyside Wednesday afternoon and she followed that up with three goals in a 6-1 win over Vista Grande Wednesday night.

“I just don’t think about scoring,” the Benedictine University of Mesa commit explained. “It’s my job to try to get this team ahead and I do what I can. I feel if I can make myself better, then the team is better.”

Besides 37 goals, Igulu also has 10 assists on the year.

Igulu put Palo Verde up 1-0 on Sunnyside on a pass from Michelle Sigala in the 23^rd minute. Sigala took an assist from Sam Doyle in the 39^th minute to put the Titans up 2-0 at the half.

Sunnyside sophomore Anay Garcia cut the lead in half on a PK in the 56^th minute but Khadijo Mohamed took an assist from Igulu in the 58^th minute and scored again on a rebound in the 59^th to extend the Palo Verde lead to 4-1.

Marilyn McFeaters found Igulu in the 65^th to make it 5-1 and Seti Valencia scored on a header in the 71^st minute to make it 5-2. McFeaters scored in 74^th to close out the scoring.

Douglas beat Cholla 5-0 in the second match of the day thanks to four goals from Crystal Muñoz. Muñoz scored five goals in a game during last year’s tournament at Palo Verde.

“The game worked smoothly and the ball came to me,” Muñoz said. “We working on passing and looking for space so it worked out today.”

Kiara Hernandez came up with two assists for Douglas and Yunise Murguia scored in the 57^th minute to round out the scoring.

Canyon del Oro beat Buena 3-0 in the third match with freshman standout Mae Sinclair scoring two goals for the Dorados. Alysa Canaz assisted Sinclair in the 39^th minute and Sinclair scored on a breakaway in the 48^th minute.

Amber Keith scored the final goal for CDO in the 73^rd.

As mentioned before, Palo Verde beat Vista Grande 6-1 in the final match of the day.

Former Palo Verde great LeeAndra Smith was on hand earlier in the day to witness her jersey retirement ceremony. The standout was the 2011 TucsonCitizen.com Student Athlete of the Year before moving over to play for the University of Arizona.  Smith is one year away from attaining her law degree from the Concordia University School of Law in Boise.

Igulu followed Smith and Stokes but the senior feels it’s much too early to consider herself in that company. Not yet.

“I guess when it’s over then it will hit me,” Igulu added. “I will feel like I accomplished something. It’s just not over yet.”

Mohamed will be joining Igulu at Benedictine and Sagala will be playing for Indiana Tech in Fort Wayne.