The Xavier Saints began winning state soccer titles on a regular basis when Kayla Armstrong was in the fifth grade, dreaming about becoming a high school player herself one day.

Now a senior and one of the elite players in Iowa, Armstrong wants to finish her career with another state crown before taking her skills to Drake University this fall.

Armstrong poured in four goals Monday as the top-ranked Saints blanked Waverly-Shell Rock, 4-0, in the regional finals at Heco Field to earn a berth in the Class 2A state tournament.

Xavier (16-1) will face ADM/Van Meter (12-6) in the opening round Thursday at 3 p.m. at the Cownie Soccer Park in Des Moines.

The Saints have won seven straight titles since 2006, an IGHSAU record in any sport. Armstrong and friends want to make it eight in a row and give the seniors exactly half of them.

"We take it to heart," Armstrong said after the Saints punched their ticket to Des Moines again. "It would mean the most if we could bring it back this year."

Armstrong ignored the gnats and all the Waverly-Rock Shell Rock defenders who tried (and failed) to slow her Monday. She scored twice in the first half and twice more in the second half before Coach Bailey Dorrington removed her from the game with three minutes left.

Armstrong will practice on Heco Field again this week, but she'll never play another game on her home turf.

"There's four years of my life built up here," she said. "It's weird to think about the different groups that have been in and out.

"It's definitely going to hit home when I get home."

Dorrington has been a major part of the Xavier dynasty as a former player and assistant coach. She succeeded Doug Graham as head coach this year and has kept the program humming along.

Dorrington has seen a string of excellent players through the years and is impressed with what Armstrong can do on a soccer field.

"She is one of - if not THE most - athletic girls I've ever seen, in basketball and soccer," said Dorrington. "It's not necessarily that she's such a skilled basketball plaeyr or soccer player. She's just athletic and fast."

Armstrong led Xavier to the Class 4A state basketball title this winter and was named the captain of the all-tournament. That gives her four state titles, along with the three crowns she's earned in soccer the past three years.

"She can stop and go instantly," said Dorrington. "She can jump. She can change speed on a dime, which is something that boys are known for.

"I would say that she almost plays like a boy, with her ability to stop and go quickly. She has a build that supports that. She has narrow hips and is quicker like that, just like a boy would be built."

Armstrong has scored 39 goals in 17 games this season. The rest of the Saints have combined for 35 goals, but it's certainly not a one-girl show.

Sammi Shepard and Lizzy Bailey had nice assists Monday and Sarah Chicchelly pitched a shutout in goal with six saves.

Armstrong is the star attraction, however, and the lithe senior with the blonde pony tail is a lot tougher than she looks. Opponents find that out all the time when they try to battle her for possession or try to slow her down with bumps and shoves.

"Extremely physically tough," said Dorrington. "She knows how to use her body without getting in trouble for it. She's kind of sneaky almost.

"She does not let anyone push her around. Part of that is her attitude."

Armstrong knows she's going to be double-teamed and triple-teamed on the field. It never seems to slow her down.

"I can definitely get feisty," she said with a smile. "You don't want to get too physical. I might go a little crazy."

Dorrington is impressed with the way Armstrong has handled things as a marked player who is expected to do big things.

"It's a lot of pressure, being Kayla Armstrong," the coach said. "She handles it really well.

"We know that kids are going to mark her, teams are going to mark her the whole game. Their whole goal is to come out and stop her, and she scores four goals."

Armstrong said she tries to keep soccer in perspective and not let it dominate her life. She enjoys family, friends and school and noted soccer takes only two or three hours per day.

"Soccer is not the end-all, be-all," she said.

Armstrong and her teammates sing and dance before games, just like they did at the state basketball tournament.

"She set a standard," said Dorrington, "and the good thing is she still has fun. This isn't her life. It seems like it is, but it's not. And that's what's important.

"She's still smiling on the field, even though she has two kids marking her the whole game. She's set a standard that you can work hard, get it and still have fun at the same time."