MACON -- The West Hall Spartans are champions for the first time.
Senior forward Sammy Coto set up the go-ahead goal and scored the clincher in West Hall's 3-1 victory over previously unbeaten Calhoun on Saturday in the Class AAA state championship at Mercer University.
It's the first state championship for West Hall in a team sport.
With the score tied 1-1 early in the second half, Coto made a run to the top left corner of the box, before deftly delivering a cross to Isaac Castruita, who flicked in the go-ahead goal at the 27-minute mark.
Coto then finished off the Yellow Jackets with goal on a penalty kick. The senior froze Calhoun keeper Hugo Barragan and stuffed the ball into the right corner to put West Hall in command, leading 3-1 with 10 minutes to play.
Calhoun had made a habit of coming from behind in its playoff run and were in position for another comeback after seizing momentum early in the second half. Dawin Lom's header three minutes into the second half tied the score.
But after Castruita's goal, the Spartans' ball control was on display. They milked the clock, forced Calhoun to take chances and then celebrated an impressive performance.
West Hall’s Steve Rodriguez scored the only goal of the first half, finding the net off a pass from Ramsis Martinez eight minutes into the game.
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