With the regular season of the Georgia High School Association soccer season winding down this week, several regions involving Northeast Georgia-area teams for both boys and girls can expect some photo-finishes as quests for playoff berths reach a fever-pitch, beginning on Tuesday.
Region 7-3A on the girls side may be the most compelling. Class 3A No. 2-ranked Wesleyan (6-5-3, 3-0 Region 7-3A) currently leads the way with eighth-ranked White County (12-4, 4-1 Region 7-3A), seventh-ranked Dawson County (11-1-1, 3-1 Region 7-3A), and No. 3 Lumpkin County (9-1-1, 3-1 Region 7-3A) all right behind. But Wesleyan owns victories over both White County and Lumpkin County.
Still, the possibilities are endless with potential tiebreakers coming into play depending on several key matchups.
Wesleyan and Dawson County both control their own destinies and the two teams will meet on Friday in Dawsonville. But first, the Lady Wolves will take on West Hall (1-10, 1-4 Region 7-3A) on Tuesday while the Lady Tigers have a huge showdown on Tuesday in Dahlonega with Lumpkin County. If Dawson County can win out, they will win the region title. Wesleyan can clinch the title with a win over West Hall and Dawson County.
White County and Lumpkin County will meet on Thursday in Cleveland and both can still still win the region title but would need help.
For the boys in Region 7-3A, the region title comes down Tuesday's showdown between West Hall (5-6-1, 4-0 Region 7-3A) and No. 5 Wesleyan (8-5, 3-0 Region 7-3A) in a winner-take-all match in Norcross.
Region 8-4A on both sides is also up for grabs. For the girls, it comes down to a showdown between No. 1 North Oconee (12-0-2, 9-0 Region 8-4A) and unranked Johnson (9-3-1, 7-1 Region 8-4A). The Lady Titans can clinch the region with a win at The Dungeon while a Johnson win could throw it into a possible three-way by the end of the week. If the Lady Knights can win out and get a loss by No. 3 Cherokee Bluff (13-2, 7-1 Region 8-4A) they would clinch the title.
On the boys side in 8-4A, No. 1-ranked Johnson has the toughest finish but also controls its own destiny. The Knights (14-0, 8-0 Region 8-4A) can clinch a home playoff game with a win over North Oconee (8-4, 7-2 Region 8-4A) on Tuesday. That would also set up a showdown with No. 4 East Hall (11-2, 7-1 Region 8-4A) on Friday at The Dungeon. The Vikings, meanwhile, can win the title if they beat North Hall (0-11-1, 0-7 Region 8-4A) on Tuesday and Johnson.
On the boys side in Region 8-5A, Flowery Branch (7-5-3, 3-1 Region 8-5A) has a chance to clinch the title with wins over Heritage-Conyers (8-4, 2-2 Region 8-5A) on Wednesday and Eastside (4-8-1, 0-4 Region 8-5A) on Friday.
(Check below for the full schedule of soccer matches on Tuesday.)
HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER SCHEDULE
Tuesday, March 28
(All matches start at 5:30 p.m. with girls unless otherwise noted)
Cherokee Bluff at Seckinger*
Collins Hill at Buford, 6 p.m.*
Dawson County at Lumpkin County*
East Forsyth at Forsyth Central
Gainesville at Habersham Central (Copa 985)*
Lincoln County at Towns County*
North Hall at East Hall*
North Oconee at Johnson*
Providence Christian at Banks County, 6 p.m.*
Rabun County at Tallulah Falls, 5 p.m.*
West Hall at Wesleyan**
(* -- denotes region contest)
