Starting today, the best soccer teams in northeast Georgia will put their foot into the state tournament as postseason play begins.
Over the past decade at least one area team has progressed to the state semifinals in various classifications, with one state champion (Gainesville boys in 2010) and a number of runner-up finishes -- which begs the question, who will make that run this postseason?
There are a number of intriguing and able candidates cramming the starters block, including region champions and seasoned playoff squads. (NOTE: See below for a complete list of kickoff times for first round games and records of area squads competing in this week’s first round.)
Class AAAAAA -- Habersham Central’s boys put together a strong regular season, their only losses coming by one goal apiece. The Raiders also notched wins over Gainesville and Johnson and will be tested for their first round trip to Lassiter.
Class AAAAA -- Gainesville’s boys and girls both navigated the Region 8-AAAAA gamut unscathed and both programs have been a regular playoff fixture. The seventh-ranked Lady Red Elephants look primed for a deep run, featuring a stout defense and explosive offense (93 goals scored, compared to just nine allowed). Win two games, and a showdown with No. 4 Northgate looms. The fourth-ranked Red Elephants face a brutal bracket that could include a second round match-up with No. 3 Greenbrier and a quarterfinal showdown with perennial power and defending Class AAAAA champ McIntosh. Flowery Branch’s boys also battled their way back into the postseason for the first time in years. Their reward? A first round showdown with 2014 Class AAAA champ and current Class AAAAA No. 1 Dalton.
Class AAAA -- The Johnson boys and Buford girls came out on top in Region 8-AAAA -- the second-ranked Lady Wolves in dominant fashion. Buford’s girls must be amongst the favorites across the entire bracket and are on the other side from No. 1-ranked Marist. Fourth-ranked St. Pius X could be waiting in the quarterfinals. Buford is both athletic, talented and seasoned -- though they will be wary of a letdown in their hunt for a title. Buford’s deepest run came in 2013, when the Lady Wolves fell to Pius in the Class AAA semifinals. Meanwhile the Johnson boys feature a handful of players that experienced last season’s state runner-up push, including perhaps the player to watch in northeast Georgia in Fabian Abarca. The fourth-ranked Knights could be set up for another deep run -- eighth-ranked Cross Keys is the only other ranked team in their quarter of the bracket. Yet coach Brian Shirley will know that rankings mean little this time of year, and will have his players focused solely on the task at hand. Chestatee’s girls also get to host a first round contest, while the Chestatee and Buford boys and White County girls each must travel.
Class AAA -- West Hall’s boys survived the slog that is Region 7-AAA, edging past both East Hall and Dawson County, but all three teams will feel they are set up for deep postseason runs. Last season’s Class AAA semifinals featured two teams from 7-AAA, and that could certainly prove true again this go around. Only Westminster and Calhoun are ranked above the 7-AAA triumvirate, and each feature the ability to be THAT squad that makes a run for the title this time around -- though they must first navigate tricky first round match-ups with Region 8-AAA teams (a region that features its own heavyweight in Oconee County, meaning that teams like Jefferson, Jackson County and East Jackson will be battle tested). As the 7-AAA champion, the Spartans would get homefield advantage in the quarterfinal and semifinal round if they can continue to advance -- which might mean a Final Four tussle with No. 1 Westminster. East Hall, meanwhile, and goal machine Leo Toledo must first find a way past Jefferson in the first round, but a quarterfinal battle with No. 2 Calhoun could also be in the offing. On the girls side, Lumpkin County will put its undefeated record, which includes 14 wins and one draw, on the line, when it begins play on Thursday against East Jackson. The Dawson County girls also enter the playoffs with an impressive resume, and the No. 2 seed from 7-AAA will feel it has the capacity for a deep run.
Class AA -- The Riverside Military boys and Union County girls claimed Region 8-AA crowns this season, but while the Eagles have earned the state’s respect already, garnering a No. 3 ranking, the Lady Panthers will have to show the voters they are for real, as they enter the postseason unranked. Union County certainly appears northeast Georgia soccer’s best-kept secret, dominating during the regular season, allowing just one goal while notching 56 of their own, and you can bet they will be eager to showcase their abilities to the rest of the state. If Riverside can continue the form it showed during the regular season, meanwhile, then a quarterfinal showdown with fifth-ranked Pace Academy looms.
Class A -- The Lakeview Academy boys and girls fought their way back into the postseason, the Lady Lions breaking a long drought to do so. Lakeview’s girls will even get the chance to host a first round playoff game, taking on Christian Heritage School at 6 p.m. Thursday at Jock Horner Field.
SOCCER FIRST ROUND STATE PLAYOFF MATCH-UPS:
Matches listed by time, earliest first
(Included are team name, seeding in parentheses, team record)
GIRLS
Tuesday
(1) Buford (12-1) vs. (4) Northwest Whitfield (4-6-2), 5 p.m.
(1) Gainesville (14-1) vs. (4) Creekview (11-6), 6 p.m.
(2) Chestatee (12-6) vs. (3) Heritage, Catoosa (6-5-1), 6 p.m.
(3) White County (10-4) at (2) Southeast Whitfield (9-2-2), 6 p.m.
Thursday
(4) Rabun County (4-4) at (1) Model (9-3), 5 p.m.
(1) Lumpkin County (14-0-1) vs. (4) East Jackson (4-8), 5:30 p.m.
(2) Dawson County (12-3) vs. (3) Morgan County (9-4), 6 p.m.
(4) East Hall (3-15) at (1) Oconee County (9-4-3), 6 p.m.
(2) Lakeview Academy (10-4) vs. (3) Christian Heritage (4-7), 6 p.m.
(1) Union County (8-1) vs. (4) Darlington (6-8), 6:30 p.m.
(3) West Hall (5-7-2) at (2) Jefferson (9-3-1), 7 p.m.
BOYS
Wednesday
(3) Buford (8-6-1) at (2) Northwest Whitfield (16-2), 6 p.m.
(4) Chestatee (10-5) at (1) Southeast Whitfield (12-3-3), 6 p.m.
(3) Habersham Central (10-5) at (2) Lassiter (11-6), 7 p.m.
(1) Gainesville (13-3) vs. (4) Cambridge (11-5-1) 7 p.m.
(4) Flowery Branch (6-10-1) at (1) Dalton (15-0), 7 p.m.
(1) Johnson (15-2) vs. (4) Pickens (N/A), 7:30 p.m.
Friday
(3) Lakeview Academy (6-8) at (2) The Walker School (8-7-1), 5 p.m.
(4) Rabun County (4-5) at (1) Darlington (11-4), 5 p.m.
(1) Riverside Military (12-2) vs. (4) Model (6-7), 5 p.m.
(1) West Hall (8-1-2) vs. (4) East Jackson (5-7-1), 6 p.m.
(3) Dawson County (10-3-2) at (2) Jackson County (7-5-2), 6 p.m.
(2) East Hall (12-5-1) vs. (3) Jefferson (6-7-1), 6:30 p.m.
(4) Lumpkin County (6-10) at (1) Oconee County (12-5), 7 p.m.
(2) Union County (8-1-1) vs. (3) Armuchee (5-9), 7:30 p.m.
