With the addition of the East Coweta girls soccer team as a contender for a state championship, the Southern Crescent has reaffirmed its spot as a soccer hotbed. In both Class AAAAA and AAAA, there are five local girls teams still alive in the state playoffs; East Coweta, Fayette County, McIntosh, Starr’s Mill and Whitewater, while the male counterparts at McIntosh, Starr’s Mill and Whitewater have made the state quarterfinals as well. By the end of the weekend, we will know how many of these teams have made the final four of the classifications.

Class AAAAA - girls

The East Coweta Lady Indians (17-3) have made the state quarterfinals. They defeated Houston County 2-0 on Wednesday and the win pits them against 10th ranked Collins Hill (14-6) on the road Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Alex Croteau and Jessica Gibson scored the goals for East Coweta and Coach Bert Keown stated that a total team effort led to the win. Collins Hill defeated McEachern in penalty kicks to make the quarterfinals. They have won five games in a row.

Starr’s Mill’s Lady Panthers (14-2-1) continued their scoring barrage with a 10-1 win over Colquitt County on Wednesday night. Goals were scored by Kelley O’Hara (4), while Gina Goforth, Emily Stevens and Katie Jacobsen each scored two. O’Hara, Stevens and Jacobsen also had assists, as did Olivia Serbun, Katelynn Morgan and Adrienne Phillips.

In two games of the state tournament, Starr’s Mill, ranked fourth in AAAAA, has scored 19 goals and allowed one. They have won seven games in a row and are enjoying playing in the friendly confines of their home stadium. They will get another home game tonight when they host Parkview at 5:30 p.m. Parkview (17-3) is ranked third in AAAAA and advanced to the state quarterfinals with a 2-0 win over Pope.

The Lady Panthers of Parkview have won nine games in a row and have gone 5-0 against opponents ranked in the top 10 in Class AAAAA this season.

Fayette County’s Lady Tigers, christened the “cardiac kids” by Coach Ben Thacker, advanced to the state quarterfinals by winning their second consecutive game in penalty kicks.
Scoring for Fayette County in the first round of kicks were Jenny Ross, Kristina Fain, Staci Pugh and Kiki Fornito.

Sudden death penalty kicks followed and freshman Kris Peterson scored after a Tift County player scored. Goalkeeper Staci Pugh stopped the next Tift player and sophomore Amy Evans netted the game winner.

The Lady Tigers record improved to 12-6-2 . They will take on Harrison (13-2) on the road on Saturday at 5 p.m. Harrison, ranked fifth in AAAAA, has won six games in a row,, including two 2-1 wins in the first two rounds of the state playoffs.

Class AAAAA - boys

The Panthers (15-3) defeated Lowndes County 4-1 on Tuesday to advance to the quarterfinals. Riley Phelps scored two goals and recorded an assist on Tuesday, while Shane Moroney and Jesy Phelps netted one goal each. Brian Smith, Chris Capati and Gray Phelps also had assists in the game. The win puts Starr’s Mill, ranked fourth in AAAAA, in the quarterfinals against an all too familiar foe, the Brookwood Broncos, ranked third in AAAAA. It seems like it always comes down to a game against Brookwood and the Panthers will undoubtedly come out ready to play this one, as Brookwood has spoiled a title run or two for Starr’s Mill. The Broncos (15-3-1) have won nine games in a row. They defeated Campbell 1-0 on Tuesday to advance to this game.

Class AAAA - girls

The McIntosh Lady Chiefs (13-5-2) defeated Greenbrier, Evans 2-1 on Wednesday to keep their hopes of a three-peat as state champions alive. Scoring goals for McIntosh were Jessalyn Moore and Kaelyn Horton, while Hayley Gant and Meghan O’Rourke recorded assists. The win pushed the team’s unbeaten streak to nine games and sets up a home game with seventh ranked Forsyth Central on Saturday.Forsyth Central, winners of four games in a row defeated the fifth ranked Salem team 4-2 on Wednesday night.

Whitewater’s Lady Wildcats (12-5-1) defeated Evans 3-0 on Wednesday with Brittany Vining scoring one goal and Kayla Emerson scoring two more. Whitewater, ranked sixth in AAAA, dominated the flow of the game and kept a lot of pressure on the Lady Knights.

“This is what the girls have worked so hard for all year,” said Coach Heather Allen. “We’ve had some tough games and tough losses in preparation for this.” They will take on Lakeside-DeKalb (11-7-1) on Saturday afternoon. Lakeside-DeKalb lost two in a row entering the state playoffs but defeated North Atlanta 2-0 and Rockdale 4-1 to advance to the quarterfinals.

Class AAAA - boys

The McIntosh Chiefs (14-4-1), ranked sixth in Class AAAA, are winners of three games in a row. They defeated Lakeside-Evans 2-0 on Tuesday to advance to the quarterfinals, where they will face Chamblee (12-3), ranked eighth, in a home game tonight.

Chamblee has won seven games in a row and is 1-3 in games against opponents ranked in the top 10 of Class AAAA.

Whitewater’s Wildcats (15-4) defeated Thomas County Central 5-0 on Wednesday to advance to the state quarterfinals. The Wildcats, ranked third in Class AAAA, got a hat trick from Brian Forero and goals from Daniel Higginbotham and Michael Bulostin in the win. Matt McCrite added an assist in the game. Whitewater will host Marist (17-3), ranked fourth in Class AAAA, on Saturday night.

Marist has won their first two games in the state playoffs, defeating Mount Zion 10-0 in the opening round and then beating Murray County 3-2 in penalty kicks to advance to the Elite Eight.

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