Is it time for a new king to sit atop the throne of Georgia high school soccer?
Johnson coach Frank Zamora is hoping so and feels that the time has arrived.
"Our goal has been to build a consistent winner that can challenge for a title every season," the fourth-year coach said on Tuesday as they prepare to take on Westminster for the Class 4A state title on Thursday at McEachern High School. (Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.)
The Westminster boys have long been the pinnacle of Georgia soccer. The Wildcats have won the most titles (14) since the Georgia High School Association made soccer an official sport in 1966. They won the first two championships (1966 and 1967). They have played for countless others. Their most recent title was in 2019 in Class 3A.
The Knights are not your standard new kids on the block, however. They have captured two titles since 2018 and played for two others over the past seven seasons. They are the defending Class 5A state champions, a match where they knocked off another perennial state power in St. Pius, which has 12 overall titles.
"Westminster has always been that team that other (soccer) programs look to try and become," Zamora said. "We have a lot of respect for them and the other teams like Dalton, and St. Pius, that always seem to be at the top and playing for titles. That's where we're trying to get to.
"But our guys feel like they are right there with them now as far as a program. It may be time for a new dog to establish its territory."
Speaking of territory, the state finals are becoming almost like a second home for the Knights.
They are into the finals for a third straight season and the fourth time in the last five seasons (not counting the COVID year of 2020 when there were no playoffs). This time it's in Class 4A. They won the Class 5A championship last season, lost in the 5A title game in 2021, and won the 5A crown, their first as a program, in 2018.
The current Westminster squad (17-4-1) has plenty of playoff experience and has had plenty of recent success against fellow Georgia teams. The Wildcats have not lost to a Georgia team this season (17-0). All 4 of their losses are to teams from Alabama (Vestavia Hills twice) and Tennessee. Their last loss to a Georgia team was to Oconee County in the 2022 Class 3A semifinals.
Johnson (20-0) climbed to No. 1 in the nation in the latest United Soccer Coaches High School national rankings. They jumped from third after McIntosh lost in the quarterfinals of the Class 5A tournament. The Knights also were ranked No. 1 in the latest scorbord.com poll in both Class 4A and statewide All-Class poll. They are working on a 26-match winning streak going back to a contentious road loss to Woodward Academy last season.
Even with all of that, the Knights have a chance to make program history on Thursday. They have yet to win back-to-back state titles and have never completed an undefeated season.
Senior North Georgia-signee Jorge (pronounced George) Sandoval, who missed parts of the early portion of the season rehabbing an injury, says the seniors are looking to go out with flare.
"We are very confident as a team," Sandoval said after their 4-0 semifinal win over North Oconee last week. "We're ready to try and make some history. When we're playing at our best, I don't think anyone can beat us. We're looking forward to playing them."
Zamora and his staff slowly eased Sandoval into the lineup throughout the season. The prolific goal scorer showed he may be back to top form with a hat trick against North Oconee, including an amazing 34-yard bending blast through the Titans' defensive wall and past a stunned keeper. He became the program's No. 3 all-time scorer (81) with the three goals.
"For the team morale, to have Jorge back at full force is huge for us. You see what he can do when he is healthy," Zamora said. "I would consider him one of the top three or four players in the state. He can change a game in an instant."
"That (bending shot) was kind of what was missing for me since the injury," Sandoval said. "That really gave me a lot of confidence. I'm still not quite in total shape, but I feel 100 percent back from the injury. It's been a hard road to get back here, but I am ready to go (for the finals)."
However, the Knights are more than just Sandoval. Fellow senior Ramon Aguilar, also a North Georgia signee, and junior Edgar Vazquez give them a trio of weapons that can impact a game at any moment.
"Those three at the top (of the offense)? Those guys are lethal," Zamora said after a seven-goal outburst against Whitewater in the quarterfinals. "We feel we are a versatile team that can play a number of styles, depending on how a match is going. That, I think, is our biggest strength on offense."
It may be the defense, however, that carries them to another possible title.
After giving up single goals in each of their first three matches of the season, the Knights pitched 15 shutouts over their final 17 matches, with only Cherokee Bluff and Whitewater managing to get anything past senior keeper Kristian Hernandez.
The defense in front of Hernandez has been nearly impenetrable. Senior Landon Avalos, junior Andres Galacia, sophomore Miguel Duran, and freshman Josue Mendoza have been the foundation of a unit that has yielded just five goals on the season.
"Those guys have been great all year," Zamora said. "We can be a little more aggressive at times on offense because we know those guys back there will do their job. They play really well together."
Zamora is hoping his talented senior group, which already has left a mark on the program, can push that to a legendary status.
"We knew back when they were in the eighth grade this was going to be a special group. They have not disappointed," he said. "These guys are excited about the chance to make some more history.
"They want to leave a legacy here. They want to be that team."
We'll know the answers to those questions, and more, around 9 p.m. Thursday. Stay tuned.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2023/5/1181419/state-finals-preview-can-johnson-become-the-new-king-of-the-pitch-in-georgia