Dominant girls regions meet in AAAAA soccer quarterfinals

By Chip Saye

For the AJC

The two regions that have dominated the first two rounds of the Class AAAAA girls soccer tournament will get a chance to go head to head Friday in the quarterfinals.

Collins Hill, North Gwinnett and Mill Creek of Region 7 won their first two playoff games by a combined score of 14-3. Harrison, Kennesaw Mountain and Hillgrove of Region 4 have been even more dominant, outscoring their opponents 39-2.

However, Region 4 teams have yet to face a ranked opponent in the playoffs. That changes Friday.

Collins Hill, ranked No. 5 in the Georgia High School Soccer Coaches poll, travels to top-ranked Harrison for a 5:30 p.m. game. Hillgrove plays at No. 6 Mill Creek at 7:30 p.m., and No. 8 Kennesaw Mountain plays at No. 4 North Gwinnett, the defending champion, also at 7:30. The other quarterfinalists, East Coweta and No. 2 Walton, meet at East Coweta at 7 p.m.

It will be the second meeting of the season between region champions Collins Hill and Harrison. The Hoyas won the earlier matchup, 1-0 on March 4. To change the outcome this time, Collins Hill must find a way to score against one of the state’s top defenses. Harrison has allowed five goals this season, including only two in the past 18 games, and has 16 shutouts. Collins Hill has scored one goal or less in 10 of its 19 games.

“We played them earlier in the year, and we’ve played them for several years,” Harrison coach Steve Riccard said. “Their midfield is very strong. They’re well-coached and well-organized. They create problems for you. It’s going to be a tight game, probably a one-goal game either way.”

The Class AAAAA boys tournament has been highlighted by the success of South Georgia schools. Lowndes upset No. 6 Harrison 2-1, and Tift County beat No. 7 North Cobb 1-0 in the second round, and they will be joined in the quarterfinals by Camden County and Coffee.

No team from south of Fayette County has won a state title in the highest classification. The last team from outside metro Atlanta to reach the AAAAA semifinals was Glynn Academy in 2002.

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State soccer tournament

Third round

Boys

Class AAAAA

Coffee at Lassiter

Lowndes at Collins Hill

Parkview at Tift County

Walton at Camden County

Class AAAA

South Forsyth at Glynn Academy

McIntosh at Lambert

Greenbrier at Chattahoochee

Starr’s Mill at Habersham Central

Class AAA

St. Pius at Perry

Veterans at Southeast Whitfield

Dalton at Cairo

Woodward Academy at Grovetown

Class AA

Cross Keys at Toombs County

Westminster at Pike County

Thomasville or Morgan County at GAC

Dublin at North Oconee

Class A

Hebron Christian at Pace Academy

Providence Christian at Savannah Country Day

Walker at Brookstone

Aquinas at Paideia

Girls

Class AAAAA

Walton at East Coweta

Collins Hill at Harrison

Kennesaw Mountain at North Gwinnett

Hillgrove at Mill Creek

Class AAAA

Whitewater at Pope

Union Grove at Lambert

Starr’s Mill at Marist

South Forsyth at McIntosh

Class AAA

St. Pius at Mary Persons

Allatoona at Spalding

Howard at Carrollton

West Laurens at Woodward Academy

Class AA

Westminster at St. Vincent’s

GAC at Pike County

Thomasville at Blessed Trinity

Lovett at Dublin

Class A

Athens Academy at Holy Innocents’

Paideia at Savannah Country Day

Pace Academy at First Presbyterian

Walker at Fellowship Christian

Note: Girls games are scheduled for Friday and boys games are Saturday, but the GHSA will allow schools with both teams remaining to play a doubleheader on one night or the other. Check with the particular school to get the exact schedule.