Monday March 18th, 2024 10:13PM

(VIDEO) Playoff soccer: GHS boys end title game drought in style

GAINESVILLE — As soon as he lined the ball up, Cristian Rodriguez knew he had a chance to create something special.

And as Rodriguez's looping, curling free kick dropped into the back of the net the entire Gainesville boys soccer team knew: This was more than special, this was another shot at history.

Rodriguez's expertly-taken set piece in the first half of overtime set Gainesville on its way to a 3-1 defeat of top-ranked Dalton in the Class AAAAAA semifinals on Tuesday at City Park, launching the Red Elephants into a state title contest for the first time since 2012. 

"I guess that's just my spot," chuckled Rodriguez, who added a second goal on a header off another free kick to help seal the contest. 

That "spot" has been pure gold for Rodriguez in the postseason, as he has now scored from a very similar position in three straight state playoff contests.

"I've got some momentum going right now, and I want to keep it going into the state finals," Rodriguez said. "I'm just glad I could be the guy to score two goals and send my team to the finals."

After leading throughout much of regulation, the Red Elephants watched as No. 1 Dalton scored on a corner kick with just 16:30 left to play -- Tony Saldana banging in the rebound. But instead of deflating Gainesville's quest to get back into the title game for the first time in five years, the equalizer only hardened the Red Elephants' resolve. And after taking a short break before the end of regulation, Rodriguez rewarded Gainesville's hard work, his goals securing a spot in Saturday's Class AAAAAA championship game against Chattahoochee at Mercer University in Macon.

"It feels pretty good; we probably beat the best team in the state today -- so that says something for us," Red Elephants coach Elie Viviant said. "Now we just need to rest and get ready, because that was a tough game for us."

The Red Elephants (19-2) took the contest to the Catamounts (20-2) from the start and jumped in front midway through the first half, as Derian Alarcon nodded a ball into the path of teammate Pedro Santos. Streaking through the middle, Santos tore into the penalty area and calmly slotted his shot into the far corner with 20:20 left before halftime.

From there it proved a battle of attrition, with Gainesville midfielders Armando Hernandez and Brandon Reyna slugging it out for every loose ball. Meanwhile, the Gainesville defense and goalkeeper Augustin Garcia also proved stout in frustrating a Dalton attack that came in with 117 goals to its credit.

"We didn't give them much," Viviant said of his defense, which was shuffled somewhat after normal starter Jorge Vasquez was benched after being ejected from Saturday's quarterfinal defeat of Centennial. "In the back Cristian Jameis, Wilson Velasquez and Erick Serrato played very well, and Jovanei Santana also did well coming in at left back."

The unit also ensured that there was no letdown after Rodriguez's two overtime strikes. And now Gainesville can gun for its third state title and first since 2010 (the other coming in 1998; the Red Elephants were runners-up in 2012).

"After last season a lot of people said we weren't going to make it, and now we're proving them wrong," Rodriguez said.

Gainesville is scheduled to play at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

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