The six Georgia powerhouses that won girls soccer state championships in 2014 are off to good starts again this season and are well positioned for another strong postseason run.
Four of the defending champions – Harrison in Class AAAAAA, McIntosh in AAAAA, Marist in AAAA and Greater Atlanta Christian in AA – are No. 1 in their classes in this week’s Atlanta Journal-Constitution rankings. The other two – St. Pius and Pace Academy – moved up in classification this season but likely will be factors again in the championship race. St. Pius won Class AAA last season and is currently ranked No. 3 in AAAA behind private school rivals Marist and Woodward Academy. Pace Academy won Class A in 2014 and is ranked No. 4 in AA this week.
Blessed Trinity (AAA) and First Presbyterian (A), which both lost in the state finals last season, are the current No. 1 teams in their classifications.
- Staying close to home: New University of Georgia coach Billy Lesesne relied heavily on local talent in his first recruiting class, picking up four in-state players and a former Georgia high school player among his five signees. Headlining the class is Marist midfielder Clara Gastaldi, who made Argentina's Under-20 national team at age 16 in 2013. "I think she's a midfield player who has special attacking qualities," Lesesne said in a press release on signing day. "She's a good dribbler and likes to take players on off the dribble." Other local signees were Providence Christian defender Anna Bougas, South Forsyth goalkeeper Hannah Goudy and Ola midfielder Sydney Shultis. The only out-of-state signee, Maya Cherry, is a former Walton player who moved to Bethesda, Md., to finish her high school career.
- Viking Cup: Sophomore Sarah Stewart had a strong performance in leading St. Vincent's Academy to the championship of First Presbyterian's recent Viking Cup tournament in Macon. Stewart scored 11 of the team's 13 goals in three games, including both in a 2-1 victory against First Presbyterian in the championship game. St. Vincent's, ranked No. 5 in Class AA, beat Class AAAAA Warner Robins 4-1 and AAAA West Laurens 7-0 earlier in the tournament. Meghan Vierhelig and Kaitlin Sells had assists against First Presbyterian, which lost for the first time this season.
About the Author
