Perry's Delaney Uyeshiro (5) watches her throw-in. Scored decisive goal 16 minutes earlier vs. Chandler. in 6A quarterfinals. (AzPreps365 photo)  

Not much action comes a soccer defender's way in the normal course of play on the offensive end. Perry senior Delaney Uyeshiro was barely in the offensive third Saturday and not a huge concern where she was on the pitch when she fired up a long, left-footed attempt in the second half.

That shot by the right-footed Uyeshiro found its way into visiting Chandler's net in the 53rd minute to snap a scoreless tie and lead the #2 seed Pumas to a 2-0 win over the #8 seed Wolves in a 6A girls soccer state quarterfinal match.

 Perry (21-2) advances to the semifinals for the second year in a row and third time in the last five years to face #3 Pinnacle. Pinnacle edged Boulder Creek 1-0 in overtime to advance. Those schools face off Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Campo Verde High School. Chandler, making its fourth state tourney appearance in coach Joe Paulsen's fourth year, closed the season 9-7-1. 

Chandler's defensive strategy and Perry's attacking game plan met with a stalemate at half. Perry had some chances and shots in the opening half, but little that made the heart palpitate. Then with Perry controlling the ball on its left sideline, Delaney Uyeshiro took her shot from 30-35 yards out. 

The high-arching shot was out of the reach and perhaps out of the view of Chandler keeper Gabriella Senior as the sun was a factor for the north end keeper. in this mid-afternoon contest. It had the perfect arc and nestled in the far-post corner of the net. It was Delaney Uyeshiro's second goal of the season and just her fourth in her three-year varsity career.

"Our coaches have worked with the defenders taking shots from out there if they think they have one," Perry coach John Roberts said. "I hate playing Joe because its hard to game manage against him. It was a battle. We're lucky to move on, but glad we are."

Perry added the second goal in the final 41 seconds as freshman Mikella Reed tallied off an assist from Joey Lujan. 

"I enjoy playing a well-coached team like Perry and the other teams in our conference (Premier Region)," Paulsen said. "I try to push our players to do their best and playing teams like we've played bring out the best in us as well. I thank them for that. Our defense played well again. Just a little unlucky today."