Boys soccer: playoff projections materialize in final weeks of regular season

With just three weeks left in the 2017 regular season, key region games shaped a meaningful past week of matchups. In Class 6A, Chattahoochee improved its Region 7 record to a perfect 5-0 after defeating Alpharetta 1-0 on Tuesday and scoring a 3-0 victory over Pope on Friday. Chattahoochee previously defeated Centennial 2-1 this month, giving the Knights their only region loss of the season.

Like Chattahoochee, Cartersville stamped a region key victory over Cedartown on Friday to move into first place of Region 5-4A. The Purple Hurricanes, however, are not alone at the top of the region as LaGrange also improved to 4-0 with a 3-1 win over Chapel Hill on Friday. Cedartown will host Cartersville Tuesday night for the region crown. Chattahoochee can clinch the region with wins in two of its next three region matchups (Johns Creek, Dunwoody, Cambridge).

In Class 7A, Berkmar survived a 1-0 top 10 showdown with Brookwood that keeps the Patriots on path for the Region 7 top seed. However, Berkmar still has 9-3 Meadowcreek, 7-4-1 Lakeside and 7-4 Norcross on its rugged region schedule.  Pebblebrook moved closer to the top seed out of Region 2-7A with a 2-0 win at Campbell on Friday. That was Campbell’s first region loss and the Spartans are now sitting at 2-1 in region play with Newnan, which Campbell defeated 3-2 on March 16. Newnan is the only team standing in the way of a top seed for Pebblebrook and the two teams will meet at Pebblebrook on April 14. In Region 4-7A, Etowah can clinch the region title with a victory at Walton on Tuesday. Walton would need a win over Etowah and a win over 0-11 Lassiter on April 14 to clinch the top seed.