The Class AAAAAA girls soccer tournament continues to go according to form, as seven teams ranked in the top nine of the final regular-season poll advanced to the quarterfinals with victories on Tuesday.
Top-ranked Harrison got four goals from Treva Aycock in a 4-0 victory against Milton. That puts the Hoyas in a third-round rematch with No. 3 Grayson, which lost to Harrison in the state championship game last season. Grayson’s Amanda Baker scored four goals in an 11-1 victory against Lee County.
Other teams reaching the quarterfinals were No. 2 Lassiter, No. 4 Walton, No. 5 Lambert, No. 8 Parkview and No. 9 Peachtree Ridge. The winner of Wednesday night’s game between No. 6 Lakeside-DeKalb and Collins Hill will take the other spot.
Here’s a recap of Tuesday night’s playoff action in the other classifications:
- Class AAAAA: Defending champion McIntosh, Starr's Mill and Northgate have combined to win the past five titles in the second-highest classification, and all three Region 4 teams returned to the quarterfinals with shutout victories. Other teams reaching the final eight were Richmond Hill, North Atlanta, Evans, Greenbrier and Columbus, which beat Loganville 4-3 on a goal with 1:47 remaining in the second overtime from Lane Burbrink, a late substitution who played just five minutes .
- Class AAAA: The five dominant teams at the top of the rankings – No. 1 Marist, No. 2 St. Pius, No. 3 Woodward Academy, No. 4 Buford and No. 5 Veterans – cruised into the quarterfinals, outscoring their opponents 37-0 in the second round. None of the five teams has given up a goal in the playoffs. They'll be joined in the quarterfinals by Region 7 champion Cartersville, Region 5 runner-up Whitewater, and Region 8 runner-up Chestatee. The headliners of the third round will be St. Pius at Buford and Veterans at Marist.
- Class AAA: Top-ranked Westminster and No. 3 Dawson County will meet in the quarterfinals after scoring five goals each in second-round victories. Westminster beat No. 5 Calhoun 5-0, and Dawson County eliminated Peach County 5-1. Second-ranked Blessed Trinity and No. 4 Lumpkin County also advanced, along with Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe, Oconee County, Decatur and Savannah Arts.
- Class AA: Region 6-AA is one step closer to putting all four of its playoff teams in the semifinals for the fifth consecutive season. Greater Atlanta Christian, Lovett, Wesleyan and Holy Innocents' easily advanced, outscoring their second-round opponents 38-1. Other teams that advanced were Union County, Social Circle, St. Vincent's and the winner of Wednesday night's Model-Vidalia game.
- Class A: Three of the eight area champions were eliminated after receiving a first-round bye. Area 3 champion Athens Academy lost 3-2 to Savannah Country Day; Area 7 winner Walker lost 3-1 to fourth-ranked Paideia; and Area 4 champ Our Lady of Mercy lost 5-0 to Stratford Academy. Top-ranked Fellowship Christian, No. 2 Atlanta International and No. 3 First Presbyterian advanced with shutout victories, and Savannah Christian and Hebron Christian advanced with one-goal wins.
