BUFORD, Ga. — Buford girls soccer coach Megan Hill says they are treating Thursday’s Class 6A final against Walton “just like any other game” on the schedule.
But make no mistake, they remember the heartbreak of 2024 when they had half-a-dozen second half scoring chances against West Forsyth in the Class 7A state title match only to walk out of Duluth Stadium with a gut-wrenching loss after a scintillating eight-round penalty kick phase.
“The girls are excited and remember the emotions and feelings that came with last year,” Hill said. “We are hopeful that that will help them make that final push and be able to finish those opportunities that were missed last year.”
And missed opportunities was the key phrase. Buford outshot West Forsyth 21-6 in the second half and two overtimes in that match, including twice inside 10 yards. Finishing on those golden opportunities was the difference.
They will shoot for their first-ever state title once again when they take on Walton in the championship match at McEachern Stadium. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m.
But so far in the 2025 playoffs, this Lady Wolves squad has already enacted one measure of revenge and shown that finishing is their forte. And it has been a challenging path for the Region 8-6A champions. Walton (19-2) is the third top five team the Lady Wolves have faced in the last three rounds.
Buford (21-0) took out the No. 1-ranked Brookwood in the quarterfinals and avenged their loss to West Forsyth last week with a 1-0 win over the third-ranked Lady Wolverines in the semifinals.
But it has been a similar road for the Lady Raiders. Walton beat No. 4 Harrison in the quarterfinals in a rematch from a loss to the Lady Hoyas in the regular season. They followed that up with a win over No. 6 Lambert in the semifinals.
Based on the defensive walls both teams have put up in the playoffs, one goal could decide this one. Buford has allowed just 9 goals on the season while Walton has surrendered just 8 goals in 2025.
But both teams also have shown they can win a defensive battle.
After scoring 17 goals in the first two rounds, the Lady Wolves have needed just 3 goals in winning a pair of 1-goal matches to get to the finals. Walton has outscored its four opponents 24-2 but won a 1-0 nail-biter over Harrison and took out Lambert 3-1 last week in the semifinals.
Hill said taking advantage of what few scoring chances they are expecting to get is paramount. Kaylen Brown, who harassed both Brookwood and West Forsyth from her midfield spot, should play another key role for the Lady Wolves.
“We have to play our game on both sides of the field,” she said. “We have to be consistent in front of goal and be able to put the ball in the back of the net. It will be another physical game.
“Kaylen is a strong player both in the attack and on defense. Depending on how the run of the play is going will determine if she will be a more attacking-minded player or a defensive-minded player.”
Buford also has Sabrie Vargas, who scored the Lady Wolves’ lone regulation goal in last year’s finals, and Sophia Martelli on the attacking end who will draw plenty of attention.
Much like they did against Brookwood when they stormed the offensive end early and punched in a goal in the opening minutes, Hill said she expects both teams to press forward in the early moments.
“I do. That could set the tone right from the beginning,” she said. “Sabrie and Sophia are both very dynamic players and we are hoping they can create opportunities for themselves and get the other players around them involved as well.”
Something else both programs have in common is that neither has captured a state title in their history. It’s also a rematch of last year’s Class 7A semifinals, won by the Lady Wolves in PKs.
This is Buford’s third trip to the state title match, losing last year in Class 7A and in 2017 to McIntosh (2-0) in the Class 5A finals.
The Lady Raiders have been knocking on the door for years. They lost in the 2021, 2022, and 2024 Class 7A semifinals and fell short in the 2023 Class 7A finals, 1-0 to Denmark. The last time Walton did not make it to at least the semifinals was back in 2019 when they lost in the second round.
