Posted at: 10/14/2009 10:50 PM

Mariah Maras

Another year, another state tournament appearance. That's what the Albert Lea girls soccer team is hoping. The number one seed in Section 2A has made it to state each of the past two seasons, and a big reason why is one of their Captains, who's also our Female Prep Athlete of the Week.

You'll have to excuse Mariah Maras. She's not your run-of-the-mill goal-scorer, thanks to one advantage.

"We have her out there on the left flank. There aren't many left-footed players in the game, so being a natural left-footer, she's able to give us some angled shots and crosses from that side," Rick Barnhill said.

Like this past week, in the Tigers' regular season finale. Maras lit up the Austin Packers for four goals in Albert Lea's 10-0 win.

"There was nothing holding me back, so I think once I got that confidence after those first couple goals, I just kept rolling," Maras said.

"You were in the Zone, so to speak?" Caleb Ostrander asked.

"I was in the Zone, exactly," Maras said.

Maras is in the Zone quite a bit, especially when the game's on the line. She's scored the game-winner in each of the last two section finals, and her coach calls her a big-time player.

"Mariah has the unique ability to stand in and perform when it's most needed. She arrives on the scene in the big-time opportunities and she makes the most of them," Barnhill said.

Right now, the only thing on Maras' mind is Mankato Loyola, which plays the number one-seeded Tigers in Saturday's section game.

"I think we'll always feel pressures to stay on top. And since we are on top, we've gotta hold it there, because other people are gonna try and bring us down," Maras said.

Mariah Maras ... our Female Prep Athlete of the Week.