GAINESVILLE — "We really wanted to go out on a high note."
For the Gainesville girls soccer team, it was certainly a case of mission accomplished on Friday, as the Lady Red Elephants closed out their regular season with a 7-0 domination of North Hall at City Park.
The sixth-ranked Lady Red Elephants (15-2) used a hat trick from Breana Fair to kickstart the victory -- a player with some extra motivation to make a mark on "senior night."
"We wanted to win this game so bad because we have seven seniors on the team -- half the team will be gone next year," said Fair, a senior herself.
"Tonight was a good example of how well passing went for us," said Garner, who was pleased with her team's overall performance.
Alyssa Turner also added two goals, while Margaret Carpenter and Caroline Nabb each scored once, as the Lady Red Elephants began to turn their thoughts in full toward the postseason -- which begins on Wednesday as Gainesville plays host to Paulding County at 5:30 p.m. at City Park.
Gainesville will be looking to break a three-year streak of falling in the first round of the playoffs.
"Every game's goning to be critical, and we are just going to take it one game at a time and break that curse," said Garner. "I think they are pretty confident and getting excited but serious about beginning play on Wednesday."
"We are very comfortable and connected," Fair added. "I think we have a chance to go far if we really come together and play together when it matters."
North Hall, meanwhile, will embark on its own postseason journey next week, as the Lady Trojans (9-7) enter the postseason as a No. 3 seed from Region 8-AAAA. They will face the No. 2 seed from Region 5-AAAA.
