Campo Verde's girls soccer rejoices in better-late-than-never win over Deer Valley. (AzPreps365 photo)

A .500 record will be good enough for Campo Verde's girls soccer team to be part of this weekend's 5A state quarterfinals.

It may seem a .500 team perhaps doesn't belong in the final eight, but don't tell that to Campo Verde coach Drew Guarneri.

"That matters to me," Guarneri said after his 8th-seeded Lady Coyotes scored in the 79th minutes for a come-from-behind 2-1 win over #9 Deer Valley."We've played well to get to where we are."

Campo Verde rests at .500 for the first time this season -- 10-10. They began 0-4 and were 3-10 the first week of January. Since then they've reeled off seven wins in a row, including the San Tan Region title that helped them along with a tough non-region, non-conference slate to be where they will be Saturday.

That will be a second chance at top-seed Notre Dame Prep. The teams met on Jan. 6 with Notre Dame winning, 2-1. That was the Lady Coyotes last loss. Notre Dame defeated Shadow Ridge, 6-0, ton Tuesday o advance. The Saints have the best record among 5A girls teams at 16-2-1. Game time is 2 p.m. at Notre Dame Prep.

Campo Verde didn't have it easy in evening its season record on its home turf. Despite drastically outshooting and outplaying Deer Valley, Campo didn't have the lead until the final minute. Deer Valley's only goal of the match and one of only two shots on goal was successful penalty kick in the 20th minute by freshman Rajanah Reed -- Reed's 38th goal of the season.

Numerous first-half chances by Campo Verde went awry or were handled by Deer Valley senior keeper Hayden Wallace and the Lady Skyhawks were the leader at intermission.

Campo Verde kept up the pressure and earned a tie as senior midfielder-forward Kyla Galdos converted inside the box in the 49th minute. Deer Valley continued to turn back scoring threats, but couldn't stop the last one.

Campo Verde hustled for possession in the 79th minute in the front third and team-assist leader Mia Duranczyk fed Lina Hurley for her seventh goal of the year from about 10 yards out for the game winner. 

It was a tough loss for Deer Valley (14-4) to absorb. The Lady Skyhawks were in the playoffs for the first time in nine years and entered with the second-best record among 5A playoff teams. They earned the No. 9 seed and state tourney match by beating #24 Sunnyslope, 2-0., in a play-in game.

"It's the right result," Guarneri said. "I think we outplayed them. Their keeper did a fantastic job. She didn't spill a shot until right at the end."