The pen is to the paper. Notre Dame Prep's Anna White signed her letter of intent earlier this week to play NCAA Division I soccer at Arizona State University.

But she still has one more big high school match to play.

Notre Dame Prep is back in the 5A state championship game for the third time in the last four years. The title game is slated for 4 p.m. on Saturday at Campo Verde High School in Gilbert.

She recovered well and made the varsity soccer team at Notre Dame Prep as a freshman. The Saints won back-to-back 5A state championships in her freshman and sophomore seasons.

Her sophomore year wasn’t all glamorous. White tore her left ACL and meniscus in practice before her first club game of the season. That injury caused her to miss her whole sophomore campaign.

“I think if you look at her influence since her freshman year, she had a rough go,” said head coach Tom White.  “She had a couple injuries that made life difficult for her. How she rebounded from those, what she continued to add to the program even when she wasn’t able to play.” 

Coach White believes the stat sheet doesn’t do justice to the type of player Anna is. He believes she’s so involved in the game that she excels in orchestrating plays in different situations instead of worrying about goals and assists. 

Her strong support from coaches, friends and family sparked White’s rise back to form and helped lead the Saints to the state semifinals as a junior.

“I think she’s a team player and she includes everyone whenever she plays. She makes everyone feel a part of the team,” said defensive midfielder Lauren Hoffman.

Hoffman has been playing with Anna White since seventh grade. Their friendship translates onto the field as Hoffman said she always knows what they are going to do when they get on the field together. Good chemistry makes it easier to connect passes and play together.

Family is essential to White’s success on the field. Her brother, Brendan White, walked on at Michigan and made the football team.

“On and off the field he’s the embodiment of a leader and student-athlete,” said Anna White. “Having him as a role model is huge because I’ve looked up to him ever since I can remember.”

Playing for the girls on her team is something that has always mattered to White. She doesn’t like to be standing around and she wants to contribute to the team as much as possible.

“Any way I can get involved and any way I can make my teammates look good is the best way to be a good player,” said White.

Recruiting took off early and originally White didn’t want to stay in state. Born in Michigan, she wanted to go back because she considers it home.

Things changed after missing the big recruiting year that a sophomore season has to offer. She plays for her family and she wants them to have the opportunity to see her perform. If she went back to the Midwest or East Coast, that wouldn't be possible.

She admits that it’s not easy to get to the point of consistent team and individual success. “That’s the mentality I’ve always had and my parents have instilled in me is you have to work hard in practice and make your coaches proud,” said White. “I use my time wisely and do the best that I can.”

The final decision came between Loyola University-Chicago and Arizona State. Between having proximity to her loved ones and embracing the big school feel, White found her new home just a few miles from high school.

“Besides her last name?” said Coach White. “The biggest thing going for her is the family has taken great pride in raising the woman she is, in terms of instilling good morals and ethics.”