Friday March 29th, 2024 11:21AM

Soccer playoffs: Spartans keep setting records; Knights roll into Elite 8

By AccessWDUN Staff | Photos and Video by Seth Chapman

OAKWOOD — The records continue to fall for the West Hall boys soccer team.

The Class 3A third-ranked Spartans shut out Savannah Arts 3-0 on Tuesday to advance to the Elite 8 round of the Georgia High School Association playoffs.

The win for West Hall (16-3-1) was its 11th straight, a new program record. The three goals also gave the Spartans 92 on the season, another program record.

“The guys are really playing well right now,” Spartans coach Jimmy Gault said. “We lost 1-0 in the first round last year. That stuck with our guys, and we have used that as motivation.”

West Hall got its first goal from Alejandro Lemus on a header off a cross from Kevin Zuniga-Chavez. The Spartans made it 2-0 on a a low shot through traffic by Andres Gomez that found the back of the net. It stayed that way until midway through the second half.

Meanwhile, keeper Diego Chacon had to make just two saves as the Spartans’ midfield and defense, led by Martin Andrade and Yair Perez pitched their seventh shutout of the season, and second straight in the playoffs..

Zuniga-Chavez tallied West Hall’s final goal in the second half. 

West Hall next will play host to defending Class 3A state champion Coahuila Creek in the quarterfinals next Tuesday.


JOHNSON BOYS 3,
WOODLAND-STOCKBRIDGE 0

Meanwhile, across town at The Dungeon, the Class 5A second-ranked Johnson boys got another solid defensive effort in advancing to their fourth consecutive quarterfinals.

Rudy Granados, Andrés Galicia, Jeffrey Castillo, and Evan Rohde shut down Woodland in front of keeper Kristian Hernandez, who had a relatively easy night in goal.

Landon Avalos scored the Knights’ first goal off a rebound off a corner kick with just under 14 minutes left in the first half.

Johnson added on early in the second half when Jorge Sandoval made it 2-0 on a breakaway started by a beautiful cross from Ramon Aguilar. Sandoval scored again later in the second half dribbling through and past the Woodland defense and finding the back of the net for a 3-0 advantage.

The Knights (18-1-1) will play host to Veterans next week in the Elite 8 round.

EAST FORSYTH 2,
TATTNALL COUNTY 1 (1-0 PKs)

The East Forsyth boys continue to shock Class 3A. The first-year program pulled off a huge road upset, knocking off Region 1-3A champ Tattnall County in PKs.

The Broncos survived a scoreless full time match and overtime before getting the winner in a shootout. They will hit the road against 2021 semifinalist Oconee County in next week's quarterfinal round.


2nd ROUND SOCCER PLAYOFF SCORES

TUESDAY, APRIL 19

Class 5A
Johnson boys 3, Woodland-Stockbridge 0

Class 3A
Pike County boys 4, East Jackson 2
East Forsyth boys 2, Tattnall County 1 (1-0 PKs)
West Hall boys 3, Savannah Arts 0


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

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20

Class 6A 
Glynn Academy girls (R2, S2) at Buford (R8, S1), 5:30 p.m 
Habersham Central girls (R8, S2) at Richmond Hill (R2, S1), 6 p.m.

Class 4A
Jefferson girls (R8, S2) at Columbus (R2, S1), 6 p.m. (at Coulmbus State University)

Class 2A
East Laurens girls (R2, S2) at Union County (R8, S1), 5 p.m.

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