Jacinta May wasn’t going back to Arimo without a state title berth.

    The junior had to get past Sugar-Salem first, and after scoring the game’s only goal, May spent a few minutes at goalkeeper, too, just to make sure the Marsh Valley Eagles would make it to state again.

    And this year, May says, Marsh Valley is going to win a game.

    “Feels pretty awesome,” May said. “We were not taking no (to) state for an answer. We beat Snake (River), then we beat Sugar and now we’re on our way.”    

    Last year, Marsh Valley lost to state runner-up Bonners Ferry in the first game of the tournament.        

    On Thursday in Twin Falls, the Eagles will play Timberlake at 2 p.m. at the Sunway Soccer Complex.

    But for now, Marsh Valley can savor a 1-0 victory over the Sugar-Salem Diggers, a team they have played three times, beating them twice and tying once.    

    “They’re a good team. They were pretty quick,” May said. “They all have pretty strong feet, so it was tough as a forward. I would have to sprint and work really hard with their defense.”

    May broke a scoreless tie in the 22nd minute after she collected a loose ball from an Eagle free kick near midfield. She was behind the Diggers’ defense and fnished with her right foot, just past the goalkeeper’s outstretched glove.

    After May and the offense provided a one-goal lead it was the defense’s job to hold off Sugar-Salem’s attacking forwards.

    It was not until the 37th minute that the Diggers managed to get off a shot at the Eagles’ net.

    After half, though, the Diggers clearly understood a loss sent them home for the year.

    A frenetic pace ensued, but still, Sugar-Salem could never shake off the Marsh Valley defenders.

    “We got a little tired in the second half, but we held them,” May said.

    In the last 12 minutes, Marsh Valley head coach Rachelle Vernon took May out of the field and inserted her at the net, just to ensure the Diggers did not find a late goal.

    “Gives me a break, a little relaxation in the goal,” May said jokingly. “She’s never done that to me before. But I played on a traveling team this summer (where) I played goalie for the first time, and I got pretty good.

    “We had a good attitude. We played hard.”