UNION GROVE, Ga. — Tyler Galasso scored with just 39 seconds left to lift Flowery Branch to a thrilling 1-0 win over Union Grove on Tuesday in the Class 5A quarterfinals.
Galasso, a junior, scored the game-winner after taking a pass from Aiden Baker. Galasso dribbled past three defenders and then blasted a shot past the Union Grove keeper.
That capped a scrappy game between both teams as the defenses stood tall. But Branch had several chances in the second half.
Keira Kikuchi hit the crossbar from outside the box after dribbling past two players, and Bryan Mata had two chances from a close distance but could not find the net.
The win pushed the sixth-ranked Falcons into Friday’s semifinals against No. 2 Dalton, a 4-3 winner over Chamblee in the other quarterfinal match. It will be the first semifinal appearance for the Falcons (12-5-3) since 2008.
Branch will play host on Friday at Falcons Field.
UNION COUNTY 1,
PUTNAM COUNTY 0
The Panthers advanced to the Class 2A Final 4 for the first time since 2019.
Evan Bohms scored off an assist from Kooper Ashcraft with 12:52 remaining in the first half for the game’s only goal. The Union County defense then went to work.
The defensive line of Isaiah Ortiz, Seth Rutan, Wes Seiler, Eli Decker, and Ashcraft made it stand up over the final 52 minutes.
Trent Baker made several key saves in goal to preserve the shutout. The Panthers have yet to yield a single goal in the playoffs.
“Our back line has played so well in the playoffs,” Union County coach Tim Hunter said. “We have won all three games 1-0. Our kids play with so much heart.”
BENEDICTINE 3,
EAST HALL 2 (OT)
The Vikings’ run in the Class 4A playoffs ended in heartbreaking fashion.
East Hall (14-4) led 2-1 late in the second half when the Cadets rallied to tie the match in the final 10 minutes. It was scoreless through the first overtime when Benedictine was able to get the game-winner in the second extra period.
The Vikings could not get the equalizer.
It was a rematch of last year’s quarterfinal showdown, won by the Vikings 3-0. They were not able to repeat history this time around, however.
(Check below for scores for the quarterfinal round involving Northeast Georgia-area boys teams.)
BOYS SOCCER PLAYOFFS, quarterfinal round, Tuesday, April 25
Class 5A
Flowery Branch 1, Union Grove 0
Class 4A
Benedictine 3, East Hall 2 OT
Johnson 7, Whitewater 1
Class 2A
Union County 1, Putnam County 0
