Alpharetta pulled off the biggest upset of the first round of the state playoffs, overcoming a 3-0 deficit and eliminating third-ranked Mill Creek 4-3 on penalty kicks Tuesday night on the Hawks’ pitch.
The Raiders, the fourth seed out of Region 6-AAAAAA, entered the match at just 8-7-2 on the season. Mill Creek, the champions of Gwinnett-heavy Region 7-AAAAAA, entered the playoffs at 15-2, after a perfect 7-0 run through the region.
The Hawks led 3-0 with 12 minutes to play, before the wheels came off. Steven Cravotta, Andres Alavarez and Chris Shifrin scored goals for Alpharetta, Shifrin’s coming with just three minutes left to force overtime.
Neither team scored in two overtime periods. Alpharetta prevailed on penalty kicks, 3-0.
Alpharetta advanced to face East Coweta in the second round.
Notes
--Scores list from Tuesday's action
--Two Class AAAAA region champions were eliminated in the first round Tuesday. Alexander, the four seed out of Region 5-AAAAA, upended Lanier, 1-0, and Starr’s Mill, the four seed out of Region 4-AAAAA, knocked off Columbus 2-0.
--Duluth opened its title defense with a 2-0 win over Habersham Central. Duluth coach Adel Mohsen told the AJC that his team was battling a case of "senior-itis" and wasn't clicking on all cylinders heading into the state tournament. Senior defensive back Mitch McCurry and senior midfielder Jose Linares have bolstered the Wildcats' defense, but Mohsen said a goal-scorer will need to step up for Dulth to make another deep run in the postseason. Theirry Jones and Kevin Soto scored for Duluth in Tuesday's win.
--The top two ranked teams in Class AAAAAA--No. 1 Chattahoochee and No. 2 Lakeside--open state tournament play Wednesday night.
Senior forward Shane Burke (21 goals) will lead Chattahoochee against visiting Peachtree Ridge. The Cougars, who finished the regular season undefeated, are trying to avenge last year's loss in the first round of the state tournament.
"We definitely talk about it," Chattahoochee coach Les Meenan said of last year's early exit. "It was a learning experience. Most of the kids were on that team from last year, but they're confident."
Lakeside hosts South Cobb at 7:30 p.m. at Hallford Stadium. The Vikings finished the regular season unbeaten and are back at full strength with the return of senior leader Max Wieder, who missed time during the regular season with a strained hamstring. Coach Ben Smith said Wieder is back at nearly 100 percent entering the tournament.
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