The quarterfinal rounds of the boys soccer state playoffs are set in Classes AAAAAAA, AAAAAA, AAAAA, AAAA, AAA and A-Public, while two matches – Pepperell at Social Circle in AA and Wesleyan vs. Mount de Sales in A Private – will take place Friday.
The quarterfinals will begin in all classifications next Wednesday before the semifinals May 14. The championships will take place May 16-18 at Mercer University in Macon and at McEachern in Powder Springs.
Of the eight teams left in the state's highest classification, only three programs – Lambert, Meadowcreek and Lakeside-DeKalb – have won boys soccer titles. Lambert, the defending champions, also won the Class AAAA title in 2012. Meadowcreek won the Class AAAAAAA crown in 2017. Five of Lakeside-DeKalb's seven boys soccer titles were won between 1970 and 1981, it most recent coming in 2008.
GHSA state soccer playoffs
(all games scheduled for May 8, pending changes)
Class AAAAAAA quarterfinal schedule
R3 #4 North Paulding at R7 #2 Meadowcreek
R3 #1 Hillgrove at R5 #1 Lambert
R3 #2 Kennesaw Mountain at R7 #1 Lakeside-DeKalb
R4 #4 Roswell at R5 #2 Milton
Class AAAAAA
Gainesville spoiled Chattahoochee's run at a title defense with a 2-1 victory in the second round to advance to a quarterfinal match against Richmond Hill. By virtue of the GHSA's universal coin toss, Richmond Hill will travel to the Red Elephants on Wednesday.
Class AAAAAA quarterfinal schedule
R2 #1 Richmond Hill at R8 #1 Gainesville
R7 #3 Cambridge at R3 #1 Lakeside-Evans
R4 #1 Tucker at R7 #1 Pope
R2 #2 Glynn Academy at R6 #1 Dalton
Class AAAAA
The state champions from the past two seasons are still alive in Class AAAAA former state champs Johnson-Gainesville (2018) and McIntosh (2017) survived their second-round matches. Johnson had the easier of the two games with a 7-0 victory against Villa Rica. McIntosh relied on a 1-0 effort against Union Grove to reach the quarters.
Class AAAAA quarterfinal schedule
R3 #4 Fayette County at R8 #1 Johnson-Gainesville
R3 #1 Starr's Mill at R5 #1 Cross Keys
R3 #2 McIntosh at R7 #1 Carrollton
R7 #4 Rome at R3 #3 Whitewater
Class AAAA
Familiar faces litter the quarterfinal matchups; Woodward Academy, Marist, Upson-Lee, Blessed Trinity and Druid Hills were all quarterfinalists last season. Southeast Whitfield, Oconee County and Spalding are the newcomers in the quarters after losing early in 2018.
Class AAAA quarterfinal schedule
R7#2 Blessed Trinity at R2 #1 Upson-Lee
R7 #3 Marist at R4 #2 Druid Hills
R8 #2 Oconee County at R4 #1 Woodward Academy
R6 #1 Southeast Whitfield at R2 #2 Spalding
Class AAA
Westminster's quest for a third consecutive championship remains in tact after a 3-0 victory against Calhoun in the second round. The Wildcats are chasing their 14th boys soccer title and sixth in the last nine years – 2011, 2012 and 2013 in AA and 2017 and 2018 in AAA. Benedictine, the Class AA champions in 2017 and 2018, earned a 5-1 victory against Pike County to earn the quarterfinal berth against Pace Academy.
Class AAA quarterfinal schedule
R2 #1 Tattnall County at R8 #1 Jefferson
R3 #1 Islands at R5 #1 Westminster
R5 #3 Pace Academy at R3 #2 Benedictine
R3 #3 Windsor Forest at R6 #1 Coahulla Creek
Class AA
Vidalia awaits the results from the Pepperell at Social Circle match Friday, but the other three quarterfinal matches are set. An interesting note: Of the nine teams remaining -- including Social Circle and Pepperell – only one program, Thomasville in 2010, has won a boys soccer title. Also interesting: In the bottom left quadrant of the bracket, two four seeds -- Jeff Davis and Union County – outlasted the six higher-seeded programs to advance.
Class AA quarterfinal schedule
R2 #1 Vidalia vs. R7 #2 Pepperell-R8 #1 Social Circle winner
R2 #4 Jeff Davis at R8 #4 Union County
R8 #2 Putnam County at R4 #1 Harlem
R5 #2 Bremen at R1 #1 Thomasville
Class A Public
Four teams remain in the A-Public bracket as the classification plays for its first-ever soccer state champion after the GHSA divided public and private schools into separate brackets. Lake Oconee Academy defeated Claxton 4-1 in the second round to earn its semifinal berth. ACE Charter won 5-1 against Morris Innovative. Atkinson County beat Drew Charter 6-2 to earn its semifinal berth, and Georgia Military won 2-1 against Trion to advance.
Class A Public semifinal schedule
A2 #2 ACE Charter at A7 #1 Lake Oconee Academy
A1 #1 Atkinson County at A2 #1 Georgia Military
Class A Private
Paideia, the defending champions, lost in the first round, so Whitefield Academy (2017) and Atlanta International (2015) are the most recent state champions. Since 2013, Paideia won four Class A titles and only missed out in 2015 and 2017. Atlanta International awaits the winner of the Wesleyan-Mount de Sales match Friday, but the other match between Walker and Whitefield Academy is set.
Class A Private semifinal schedule
A7 #1 Atlanta International vs. A2 #2 Mount de Sales/A8 #1 Wesleyan winner
A5 #1 Walker at A6 #1 Whitefield Academy
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