MT. AIRY, Ga. — The Class 5A defending state champion Johnson boys soccer team opened its 2023 season with a 3-1 win over Class 6A Habersham Central on Tuesday on the road.
The match was also part of the new Copa 985 league.
The Knights (1-0) got first half goals from Andres Galicia and Daniel Trujillo as they took a 2-0 lead into halftime. Trujillo also assisted on Galacia’s goal while Juliann Pimentel had an assist on Trujillo’s goal.
Johnson, which is now in Class 4A, extended its lead to 3-0 in the second half on a blast by Ramon Aguilar with Pimentel picking up his second assist of the game.
Habersham Central (0-1) got its lone goal late in the game on a penalty kick.
Kristian Hernandez got the win in goal for Johnson.
The Habersham Central girls opened with a 3-0 win over the Lady Knights in the first game.
Johnson will play host to Flowery Branch and Habersham Central will travel to East Hall on Friday in a pair of Copa 985 league matchups.
In other action around the area, the Chestatee boys opened their season with an 8-0 thumping of Dawson County at the Lynn Cottrell Complex.
The War Eagles (1-0) will play host to West Hall on Friday in Copa 985 action.
The Cherokee Bluff girls also opened with a dominating win, beating West hall 10-0 behind a five-goal effort from Genesis Gamez in a Copa 985 match.
Amelia Dovie powered in three goals and also had three assists for the Lady Bears (1-0). Eva Martin had a goal and four assists for Cherokee Bluff.
The Jefferson girls, who finished as Class 4A state runners-up in 2022, took a 0-0 draw with Class 7A Lambert at Memorial Stadium on Tuesday to open their season.
