Sophomore Olivia Gastwirth scored three goals Saturday to lead Palo Verde (No. 1S 4A Sky League) to a 5-0 home victory over SLAM! Nevada (No. 4D Desert League) in the first round of the Class 4A Southern Region girls soccer playoffs.

“We scored in the first minute and played well in the first half,” Panthers coach Pedram Mahinpey said. “Our focus was on us because we didn’t know much about our opponent. We just wanted to play up to our standards.”

Caitlynn Nick and Angelie Mendoza also added goals for Palo Verde, which controlled the ball on the way to a 3-0 halftime lead.

“When we play well, we’re going to control possession,” Mahinpey said.

Goalkeeper Taylor Bringhurst had five saves to earn the win for the Panthers (13-3-1), who play Sierra Vista at 5 p.m. Monday at Eldorado in the

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