In the state’s highest classification, Area 2 proved its dominance throughout the regular season and continued its prowess over state competition in the playoffs. Area 2 sent three teams to both the boys and girls semifinals. Milton, Roswell and Walton represented Area 2 in the boys’ final four and Milton, Lassiter and Walton represent in the girls’ semis.
THE BIG BOYS…
The Milton boys survived the quarterfinals with a 13-12 win over Johns Creek and before meeting their match in the semifinals. Lambert, which earned a one-goal victory to escape the quarterfinals with an 8-7 win over top-seeded Harrison was the only in- state school to beat Milton this season (13-11 on March 18). The Longhorns topped the Eagles again in the semis and earned their fourth straight finals appearance with a 10-8 victory.
Roswell, the No. 2 seed out of Area 2 knocked off defending state champion Centennial 12-10 last Friday and played host to Walton in the semis on Tuesday. The Hornets scored a 12-8 victory to reach the finals and swept the season series after their 12-9 win during the regular season (April 23).
Walton, led by its second-year head coach Griffin Spotz, lost back-to-back games to Chattahoochee and Roswell at the end of the regular season, but reached the semifinals with five straight wins over teams with a combined record of 63-32. Walton’s win in the quarterfinals came in an impressive 12-7 effort over Peachtree Ridge.
In Class A-AAAAA, Northview impressed with a 15-5 double-digit victory over Allatoona in the quarterfinals and rolled past Pope 16-5 in the semis. Defending Class A-AAAAA state champion Westminster cruised past GAC 11-4 and battled with rival Lovett in the semis. Westminster handed Lovett a 7-6 defeat in the regular season and entered the semifinals looking to beat Lovett twice in the same season for the first time since 2010. Lovett stifled the Wildcats, and took the rematch 9-5 on Wednesday to reach the championship.
THE GIRLS ACTION …
In Class AAAAAA girls competition, Milton dominated West Forsyth 20-5 to face Centennial and crushed the Knights 18-5 to advance to the finals. The Milton girls have won eight state titles the past nine seasons and own a perfect in-state record this season. Lassiter held off a talented Chattahoochee team 14-12 to make the quarterfinals and played host to Area 2-rival Walton, which exploded to a 23-6 win over Mill Creek in the quarterfinals.
Walton’s only in-state losses this year were to Lassiter (10-9) and Milton (18-8) entering the semifinals. Lassiter’s only in-state loss was to Milton (14-10). Lassiter, Milton and Walton are 14-0 against Georgia teams outside of Area 2 this season. Walton and Lassiter battled in a rainy overtime thriller in the semifinals and the Raiders prevailed 13-12. Erin McBride tied the game at 12-12 and Sophia Watkins netted the game-winner in the final minute.
In Class A-AAAAA, the Blessed Trinity girls scored a thrilling 13-12 victory over top-seeded McIntosh to advance to the semis. The Titans visited Kell on Tuesday, which beat Northview 18-12 in the quarterfinals. Kell survived Blessed Trinity with a 12-11 victory and advanced to the program’s first state championship.
The second half of the semis featured Westminster and St. Pius X. Four-time defending state champion Westminster dominated St. Pius with a 19-9 win to return to the finals.
Westminster has lost one game to an in-state opponent all season and it was a 14-9 loss to the high-powered Longhorns. Kell’s semifinals victory moved the school to a record 19 wins. Leslie Ferguson netted five of Kell’s 12 goals in the semis and teammates Haley Swift and Izzy Palermo both tabbed hat-tricks. Swift led Kell in the first round with four goals and six assists and potent Kell is averaging 16.6 goals per game this season.
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