Central Gwinnett has had a habit of contending, but never conquering the brutally tough Region 8-AAAAAA. The Black Knights are in position to change that this season.
Central Gwinnett entered the final week of region play poised to capture the program’s first region title in Class AAAAAA. The Black Knights began the week with a one-game lead over Parkview in Region 8-AAAAAA. They defeated Parkview 2-1 on March 31. Central Gwinnett played at Grayson on Tuesday and will finish region play at South Gwinnett on Friday. One win would clinch the top seed out of the region in the state tournament. Two wins would give the Knights an outright region title and accomplish a season goal.
“Our goal all along has been to go 8-0 [in region play],” Central Gwinnett coach Cory Morgan said. “Central has always made a first- or second-round exit, always finishing second or third in the region. This year, I’d like to see them do very special for them and to prove to themselves how good they can be.”
The Black Knights were 6-0 in region play heading into the Grayson matchup.Morgan says his team doesn’t have any true standouts, only leaders, like senior captain Diego Godinez, who leads the team in points with eight goals and four assists.
“He’s my utility player,” Morgan said of Godinez. “If I have a hole on the field, I plug him in. He’ll go wherever we need him to go. He’s the most selfless teammate that we have. He is the captain, the leader of these guys. As he goes, we go.”
Senior goal keeper Rickie Ortiz, an all-Gwinnett County selection last season, has impressed again this year, and junior midfielder Joel Dominguez leads the team in assists.
Morgan says, if anything, his team will enter the state tournament having faced stiff competition. The Black Knights took on a pair of South Carolina squads over spring break and took nationally-ranked Wando into overtime, before losing on penalty kicks.
“When you look at this team and our schedule, I think ‘battle-tested’ comes to mind,” Morgan said. “I’ve tried to put every obstacle, every situation that I could in front of these kids, because I wanted them ready when the time is right. They’ve been challenged. They have been tested. “
Revitalized champs: Defending AAAAAA state champion Brookwood has been banged-up all season. But the Broncos may be getting back to full strength just in time for the playoffs. Brookwood got off to an 8-0 start, but is just 5-3 since. The Broncos allowed only four goals in the first eight games, but have allowed 10 goals in their last eight games.
“We are now back to full strength for the most important week of the season and that’s good time,” Brookwood coach Daniel Klinect said.
Forward Ekow Annan leads the Broncos with 13 goals and eight assists, despite being about “80 percent healthy,” Klinect said.
Center back Jimmy Ryan has anchored the defense, battling for balls in the air and defending one-on-one, and midfielder Graham Grassmyer has been a consistent force, playing nearly every minute this year for the Broncos.
Brookwood wraps up the regular season against Berkmar (Tuesday) and at Parkview on Friday.
Note: The first round of the state tournament kicks off on April 29. The state championship games will be held May 14-16 at Mercer University.
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