FLOWERY BRANCH — Junior Maggie Wadsworth netted five goals to lead Class 4A No. 4 Flowery Branch to a 9-0 rout of Fayette County on Thursday in the first round of the state playoffs.
The Lady Falcons (11-4-1) got going early and never let up. Sarah Greiner recorded a brace and Larsyn Reid and Mollie Langner each scored once.
Since a two-match stretch where they scored just two goals, the Lady Falcons offense has been red-hot scoring 56 goals in a nine-match stretch while going 7-2 with both losses (North Oconee and Pace Academy) coming to teams ranked in the top three in their respective classifications.
Next up for Branch will be No. 2 Marist (14-3-2) on the road next week in the second round. The Lady War Eagles have won 8 of their last 9 overall allowing just six goals with five shutouts.
The Lady Falcons weren't the only Region 8-4A team to advance as all four Region 8-4A participants won to sweep out Region 5-4A on Thursday.
No. 5 Jefferson clobbered Hampton 7-0 while No. 1 North Oconee beat Mt. Zion-Jonesboro 10-0. No. 4 seed Madison County pulled a big upset eliminating eighth-ranked Luella, 4-2, on the road.
The Lady Dragons (12-3) will travel to No. 3 Northwest Whitfield (11-0-3) in the second round.
FIRST ROUND SOCCER SCORES, Thursday, April 22
CLASS 6A
Dalton girls 2, Habersham Central 1
Buford girls 10, Rome 0
CLASS 4A
Flowery Branch girls 9, Fayette County 0
Jefferson girls 7, Hampton 0
CLASS 2A
Banks County girls 4, Callaway 2
Rabun County girls 6, Haralson County 0
Union County girls 3, Temple 1
Friday, April 23
CLASS 6A
Habersham Central boys (R8, S3) at Rome (R5, S2), 7 p.m.
CLASS 4A
Chestatee boys (R8, S3) at Fayette County (R5, S2), 6:30 p.m.
Flowery Branch boys (R8, S4) at Luella (R5, S1), 6 p.m.
Hampton boys (R5, S4) at East Hall (R8, S1), 6 p.m.
Mt. Zion-Jonesboro boys (R5, S3) at Jefferson (R8, S2), 6:30 p.m.
CLASS 2A
Callaway boys (R5, S3) at Riverside Military (R8, S2), 6 p.m.
Haralson County boys (R5, S4) at Union County (R8, S1), 6 p.m.
Rabun County boys (R8, S4) at Bremen (R5, S1), 6 p.m
