Atlanta International School star Tomas Perez capped a prolific career with two goals in a 3-0 win over Stratford Academy in the Class A boys state soccer championship Saturday at Mercer University. It’s the first state championship for the Eagles.
Perez scored on a header off a Matias Fernandel assist with 14 minutes left in the first half and tacked on another goal early in the second half on a direct kick. The senior finishes his high school career with 84 goals, 44 coming this season. The school record for career goals had been 26.
“Tomas is a phenomenal athlete,” AIS coach Danny Cox said. “He is represented the school for years, leading us to the finals in three of the four years he’s been here. He said this was going to be his year.”
Two AIS freshmen combined to seal the victory later in the second half, when freshman Logan Paradies buried a shot from the top right corner of the box off a timely pass from freshman forward Nicolas Perez.
Stratford had outscored its playoff opponents 17-0, but couldn’t crack the AIS defense. AIS keeper Jack Barringer made several key plays, including a diving one-handed save in the first half that prevented Stratford from a tying goal. Senior defender Maximillan La Palme also came up big right before the end of the first half, backing up Barringer to keep a potential goal out of the net.
Cox, the Eagles’ first-year varsity head coach, is headed back to the United Kingdom after the season.
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