FLOWERY BRANCH — The Cherokee Bluff girls soccer team is making the rest of Class 3A take notice.
The third-ranked Lady Bears advanced to their first-ever Elite 8 after a dominating 10-0 win over Appling County on Monday in the Class 3A state playoffs.
It was the second consecutive 10-0 win in the playoffs for Bluff keeper Avery Fowler and the defense, their third straight going back to the final game of the regular season, and the sixth shutout victory in the last seven games overall.
Meanwhile, Kaitlin Cook continued to spark a potent Lady Bears (17-3) attack with four goals and an assist. Amelia Dovie added two goals and three assists while Carson DeMars had a brace for Bluff.
Alyssa Stringer had a goal and two assists, Anna Gessner one goal and one assist, and Genesis Gamez had two assists and Paige Wheat one assist for the Lady Bears.
Next up for Cherokee Bluff, which has won 13 straight, will be Morgan County, which beat Stephens County in PKs, at home in the quarterfinals.
Bluff was one of two Region 7-3A teams to advance to the Elite 8. Fifth-ranked Lumpkin County advanced to its first quarterfinals since 2016 with a 3-0 win over Pierce County on the road.
The Lady Indians (16-3-1) will travel to Oconee County in the Elite 8.
Jackson County, ranked sixth in Class 5A, got past Starr’s Mill in a defensive battle, 1-0, at home. It was the seventh straight win for the Lady Panthers (14-5) who will play host to the Decatur-Veterans winner in the Elite 8 next week.
In Class A Public, Region 8-A continued its dominance as three teams moved into the Elite 8. The second-ranked Commerce girls routed Montgomery County 14-0 while Towns County whipped Treutlen on the road, 5-0. Social Circle beat Irwin County 10-0.
Commerce (19-1) ran its win streak to 10 but will be hitting the road next week against Claxton, a 3-2 winner over Chattahoochee County, in the quarterfinal. Towns County (11-4) will travel to Ace Charter.
However, Lakeview Academy could not pull off its second straight road upset in the playoffs, falling to Region 2 champion Paideia, 4-0, in Class A Private.
Despite not scoring in her final game, the Lady Lions' Millie Filson finished the season with 39 goals and 28 assists. She scored a school and Hall County record 129 goals in her career, and added 69 career assists, also a school record. McKenna Filson set a single-season school record with 29 assists for Lakeview and netted 19 goals in 2022. Senior standout Sara Nivens finished with 21 goals for Lakeview as well.
Lakeview scored a school record 101 goals this season.
The area girls playoffs teams will be back in action in Wednesday. Meanwhile, the boys take center stage on Tuesday, including highly-ranked teams Johnson and West Hall.
2nd ROUND SOCCER PLAYOFF SCORES
MONDAY, APRIL 18
Class 5A
Jackson County girls 1, Starr's Mill 0
Class 3A
Cherokee Bluff girls 10, Appling County 0
Lumpkin County girls 3, Pierce County 0
Class A Public
Towns County girls 5, Truetlen 0
Commerce girls 14, Montgomery County 0
Class A Private
Paideia girls 4, Lakeview Academy girls 0
2nd ROUND SOCCER PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
TUESDAY, APRIL 19
Class 5A
Woodland-Stockbridge boys (R4, S3) at Johnson (R8, S1), 7 p.m.
Class 3A
East Forsyth boys (R7, S2) at Tattnall County (R1, S1), 6:30 p.m.
East Jackson boys (R8, S2) at Pike County (R2, S1), 6 p.m.
Savannah Arts boys (R5, S4) at West Hall (R7, S1), 6 p.m.
