Class AAA's top-ranked boys soccer team will play in a crucial Region 5 matchup Friday night at 7 p.m, when Westminster (12-1-1) travels to No. 8 Lovett (6-2-0).
The programs are atop the Region 5 standings; Westminster is 4-0 and Lovett is 3-0. Westminster recently took its talents to the Smoky Mountain Cup in Gatlinburg, Tenn., where it went 2-1. The Wildcats won the first match 2-0 against Enterprise, Ala., before its 1-0 loss to Station Camp, Tenn. Westminster rebounded with a 4-1 victory against McCallie, Tenn., last Saturday.
Lovett has been perfect since its 5-0 loss to Class A No. 3 Whitefield Academy on March 26. The Lions responded with 5-AAA victories against Stone Mountain (2-0) and Cedar Grove (8-0). Lovett then handed Class AAAA No. 4 Woodward its fourth loss of the year Tuesday (1-0).
In other matches on Friday, an inter-class meeting between Class AAAA No. 8 Marist (8-4-1) and Class A Private No. 5 Wesleyan (8-4-0) is worth following. Here are some of the other the top matchups this weekend:
-- Marist will look to right the ship after dropping a 3-2 contest at home against Class AAAA No. 7 St. Pius X last week. Wesleyan is riding momentum from three consecutive victories, including a 1-0 shootout victory against Providence Christian. Wesleyan beat Hebron Christian 7-0 last week, then defeated Class AAA No. 6 Pace Academy, 4-2, Tuesday.
-- Class AAAA No. 4 Upson-Lee (13-0-1) will travel for a rematch of a recent victory against Perry (8-5-0). Upson-Lee won 3-1 against the Panthers on March 19, before beating West Laurens 2-0 on March 22 and Spalding 2-1 last week. Perry has played one match since the loss to the Knights. The Panthers traveled to Class AAAAA Warner Robins on Tuesday and won 2-0.
-- On Saturday, two ranked programs from Class A will meet when No. 6 Mount de Sales (11-1-0) travels to No. 4 St. Anne Pacelli (9-2-1). With both teams tied at 3-0 in the Area 2 standings, this match will determine the front-runner. Mount de Sales dropped its one match on the road at Houston County on Feb. 22 and since the Cavaliers have won nine matches with six shutout victories. St. Anne Pacelli has lost two matches this season but only one came against a Georgia team – a 3-0 loss to Class AAAA No. 8 Marist. The Vikings lost a 1-0 game at Auburn, Ala., last month. The tie (1-1) came against Whitewater on Feb. 14. Pacelli defeated Tattnall Square 7-0 Tuesday. Mount de Sales beat Howard 8-1 Wednesday in its most recent match.
Boys Soccer Rankings
Class AAAAAAA
1. Hillgrove
2. Lambert
3. Lakeside-DeKalb
4. Pebblebrook
5. Collins Hill
6. Mountain View
7. Colquitt County
8. Roswell
9. North Gwinnett
10. Mill Creek
Class AAAAAA
1. Dalton
2. Pope
3. Chattahoochee
4. Sprayberry
5. Gainesville
6. Tucker
7. Cambridge
8. Greenbrier
9. Northview
10. Glynn Academy
Class AAAAA
1. Decatur
2. Cross Keys
3. Johnson-Gainesville
4. Starr's Mill
5. McIntosh
6. Clarkston
7. Rome
8. Carrollton
9. Clarke Central
10. North Springs
Class AAAA
1. Upson-Lee
2. Chestatee
3. Eastside
4. Woodward Academy
5. Northwest Whitfield
6. Oconee County
7. St. Pius X
8. Marist
9. Columbus
10. Blessed Trinity
Class AAA
1. Westminster
2. Greater Atlanta Christian
3. East Hall
4. Islands
5. Benedictine
6. Pace Academy
7. Jefferson
8. Lovett
9. Morgan County
10. Pike County
Class AA
1. Coosa
2. Putnam County
3. Harlem
4. Woodville-Tompkins
5. Lamar County
6. Pepperell
7. Fitzgerald
8. Bremen
9. Jeff Davis
10. Thomasville
Class A
1. Paideia
2. Atlanta International
3. Whitefield Academy
4. St. Anne Pacelli
5. Wesleyan
6. Mt. de Sales
7. Pinecrest Academy
8. Athens Academy
9. Holy Innocents'
10. Riverside Military
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