CHRIS CODUTO/Arizona Daily Wildcat Midfielder Mallory Miller passes during the Wildcat's game against the University of San Francisco on September 21. Miller, a Tucson native and graduate of Salpointe Catholic High School, has been an offensive force all season for the Wildcats.

The white soccer ball bounces after pounding the back of the twine. "It's Miller Time!" echoes proudly across Murphey Stadium. Among Arizona teammates, a local Tucsonan is smothered in white Arizona jerseys and high-fives.

Mallory Miller has scored her second goal in as many minutes, and the Wildcats have taken a commanding 3-1 lead over San Francisco. But the fire behind the goal did not start before this game, when the center-midfielder put her gear on in the same order she's done for 13 years. A piece of it happens to be a small distance away ÷ almost a full "Miller Time" kick.

As a senior and captain of Tucson's Salpointe High School, Miller led her team through the state championship tournament, but fell one win short. Her Lancers did win it in 1999, when Miller was a sophomore on the team.

The 17 goals and nine assists that earned her Southern Region Player of the Year in 2001 were no doubt part of her college applications, but not the main selling point.

"(Mallory) wanted to stay home because of family and friends," said older sister Maria, who doubles as her roommate. "She also wanted to help build this (soccer) program."

Anthony and Anne Miller, Mallory and Maria's parents, also live in Tucson and are rumored to have announced a catchy slogan involving their last name at soccer games for some years. And it's been confirmed that they pass down a Fighting Irish tradition in their family as well.

"I'm a big Notre Dame fan. My uncles taught there," Miller explained. "All of my teammates know."

Forget South Bend, though ÷ Tucson is where she wanted to be.

"It was mainly the weather and familiarity with the campus," Miller said. "Academics, family and friends, and building the soccer program were all factors."

As a student, elementary education is netting some of Miller's attention, though she's yet to declare a major. Regardless of what she studies, Maria, also a UA student, is sure Mallory will succeed.

In five years, Miller said she plans to still live in Tucson.

"I hope to be coaching a small club in town, take what I've learned and pass it down," she said.

Maria also said her sister is very easy to get along with ÷ something several soccer refs might disagree with.

"The refs and I don't always get along," Mallory said, laughing.

A confrontation with an official in Montana aside, Miller is straight dangerous on the field. She has made an impact since the first time she tucked her shoelaces into the side of her cleats all those years ago. For the 30 matches Miller has been on the Arizona roster, she has been in the starting lineup every time.

"I just wanted to find a spot on the team," Miller said. "Freshman year was hard, learning the speed of (Division-I) soccer."

Under coach Cathy Klein in 2002, Arizona went 6-12-1. Miller had 47 shots, but just two goals and three assists.

Miller said that last year is exactly that ÷ last year.

"I just wanted to make an impact on the program," Miler said. "That experience let me adapt to all the teams in the Pac-10."

Her impact this season? Thirty-four attempts at the goalie's head, five goals, two assists and one coach later, she is laying the foundation for UA soccer. The adaptation this season begins on Friday versus Stanford.

"Mallory takes every training chance to get better," said first-year UA head coach Dan Tobias, who saw Miller play when he was at Washington State. "The season's only half over. This is a great sign of what she can do."

Miller is a self-described "easy-to-read" person. Tell that to opposing defenders, who are having a time of it.

Coach Tobias suggests limiting her touches with the ball. But her level of fitness falls into the "can't control, can only hope to contain" category.

"She runs and runs ÷ she is definitely a 90-minute player," Tobias said of Miller's fitness. "We've tried to encourage her strokes on the ball with her great sight."

Miller suggests defenders should pressure her from 35 yards in, but getting the modest Miller to talk about the Miller the competitor does not come easy. Even from that recommended distance, coach Tobias said Miller can be a sniper.

"With the pace and accuracy she kicks with, if she gets one at the frame, it's going to be in," Tobias said.

Offensively, Miller is supposed to set up the forwards, but Tobias has stressed experimenting with opposing net minders early and often.

"He tells us before games to keep testing the goalkeepers if we have a line or (if) she's out of position," Miller said.

Tobias is also impressed, but not surprised, at how Miller has enhanced her ability to shift from offense to defense during game play.

On the defensive side of the ball, her coach thinks she is "Very even-keeled and quietly goes about her business."

After the Wildcats beat San Francisco with No. 5 scoring a pair, she wraps her shoulder in ice ÷ something Pac-10 cleats will likely render. A first-year coach sees something. "She has something you can't teach; she loves to play this game," he says.

As for the first kick against Stanford Tomorrow? Oh, it's at Miller Time.