Pope enters the upcoming soccer season as one of the top contenders for a state title, thanks in large part to their standout goalkeeper, Addison Daughtry.
The senior keeper is committed to Georgia Southern and is the highest-rated goalkeeper in the state, earning a four-star rating from Top Drawer Soccer. Beyond the accolades, her performance on the field has been exceptional for the Greyhounds.
Last season, Pope posted an impressive 13-2-2 record, ultimately falling to eventual champions Marist in penalty kicks during the quarterfinals. Daughtry was instrumental in the Greyhounds’ defensive dominance, helping the team secure eight shutouts and limiting four additional opponents to one goal or fewer. Remarkably, she never allowed more than two goals in a single match, with those instances occurring only three times last season in the season-ending loss to Marist, a 4-2 victory over semifinalist Lassiter, and a 2-2 draw against Midtown early in the season.
Her elite play will be crucial this year in navigating a challenging region that includes traditional power Lassiter, which won the state title just two years ago. Pope has long been a dominant force, but the program is still seeking its first state championship since winning four consecutive titles from 1999 to 2002.
Other standout goalkeepers to watch this season include East Coweta’s Madielyn Diestler, who is committed to Samford. Mountain View’s Bella Grace Dunn, a three-star goalkeeper, is currently committed to Binghamton. Cherokee will rely heavily on Louisiana Tech-commit Ashley Ittel, who was a key factor in the Warriors’ playoff run last year and contributed to six shutout victories.
On the boys’ side, the top goalkeeper is Blessed Trinity’s three-star prospect, Michael Roth. A Mercer-commit, Roth played a pivotal role in the Titans’ success last season, helping them achieve a 13-4 record while recording six shutouts along with 59 saves.
Soccer programs around the state can begin to practice on Jan. 27 and can play their first matches on Feb. 10. Teams must end region play by April 19 for the playoffs, which begin April 22. The state championship matches take place from May 13-15 at Duluth, McEachern and Mercer University in Macon.
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