FLOWERY BRANCH — Cherokee Bluff got a hat trick from Kaitlin Cook in a 6-1 win over Southeast Whitfield in Thursday's first round of the Class 4A state playoffs.
The three goals for Cook put her over the 100-goal mark for her career (102) as she became the first player from Hall County to reach 100 in their first three seasons.
Alyssa Stringer added a goal and two assists, while Amelia Dovie and Eva Martin each had a goal and an assist for the fourth-ranked Lady Bears (16-2). Anna Gessner also had one assist for Bluff.
It was Stringer, however, that got things going quickly for Cherokee Bluff. Stringer scored just 13 seconds into the match off the kickoff from a beautiful pass played through from Gessner. Cook added another goal minutes later off a cross from Stringer for her 100th goal.
Avery Fowler and Emily Benjamin split time in goal for the Lady Bears.
Cherokee Bluff next will take on the Lovett-Clarkston winner in the second round next week.
Region 8-6A had a rough night as region champ Jackson County was taken down by Region 7-6A No. 4 seed Roswell, 5-0, in Hoschton. Habersham Central, the No. 2 seed from 8-6A, also lost 5-0 to fourth-ranked Lassiter at Raider Stadium. In Marietta, Lanier was routed by No. 2 Pope, 10-0.
Johnson, making its first playoff appearance since 2019, also had a short stay, falling 3-0 to No. 7 Northwest Whitfield in Class 5A. The Lady Bruins scored a pair of goals in the first half and held on in the second half.
East Jackson (2-7-1) opens Class 2A against No. 2 Model (15-0) on the road on Friday.
(Check below for the full first-round scores for Northeast Georgia-area girls teams.)
GIRLS STATE TOURNAMENT SCORES, Thursday, April 13
Class 6A
Roswell 5, Jackson County 0
Lassiter 5, Habersham Central 0
Class 4A
Northwest Whitfield 3, Johnson 0
Cherokee Bluff 6, Southeast Whitfield 1
Class 2A
Union County (R8, S3) at North Murray (R7, S2), 6 p.m.
GIRLS STATE TOURNAMENT SCORES, Tuesday and Wednesday, April 11-12
Class 7A
Buford 4, Meadowcreek 0
Class 5A
Dalton 3, Flowery Branch 2
Jefferson 7, Cartersville 0
Class 3A
Oconee County 5, Dawson County 1
Lumpkin County 10, Stephens County 0
White County 1, Hebron Christian 0
Class A Division 1
Commerce 11, Pepperell 1
Darlington 2, Rabun County 0
Class A Division 2
Towns County (R3, S3), BYE in 1st round
