The two regions that have dominated the first two rounds of the Class AAAAA girls soccer tournament will get a chance to go head to head Friday in the quarterfinals.
Collins Hill, North Gwinnett and Mill Creek of Region 7 won their first two playoff games by a combined score of 14-3. Harrison, Kennesaw Mountain and Hillgrove of Region 4 have been even more dominant, outscoring their opponents 39-2.
However, Region 4 teams have yet to face a ranked opponent in the playoffs. That changes Friday.
Collins Hill, ranked No. 5 in the Georgia High School Soccer Coaches poll, travels to top-ranked Harrison for a 5:30 p.m. game. Hillgrove plays at No. 6 Mill Creek at 7:30 p.m., and No. 8 Kennesaw Mountain plays at No. 4 North Gwinnett, the defending champion, also at 7:30. The other quarterfinalists, East Coweta and No. 2 Walton, meet at East Coweta at 7 p.m.
It will be the second meeting of the season between region champions Collins Hill and Harrison. The Hoyas won the earlier matchup, 1-0 on March 4. To change the outcome this time, Collins Hill must find a way to score against one of the state’s top defenses. Harrison has allowed five goals this season, including only two in the past 18 games, and has 16 shutouts. Collins Hill has scored one goal or less in 10 of its 19 games.
“We played them earlier in the year, and we’ve played them for several years,” Harrison coach Steve Riccard said. “Their midfield is very strong. They’re well-coached and well-organized. They create problems for you. It’s going to be a tight game, probably a one-goal game either way.”
The Class AAAAA boys tournament has been highlighted by the success of South Georgia schools. Lowndes upset No. 6 Harrison 2-1, and Tift County beat No. 7 North Cobb 1-0 in the second round, and they will be joined in the quarterfinals by Camden County and Coffee.
No team from south of Fayette County has won a state title in the highest classification. The last team from outside metro Atlanta to reach the AAAAA semifinals was Glynn Academy in 2002.
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State soccer tournament
Third round
Boys
Class AAAAA
Coffee at Lassiter
Lowndes at Collins Hill
Parkview at Tift County
Walton at Camden County
Class AAAA
South Forsyth at Glynn Academy
McIntosh at Lambert
Greenbrier at Chattahoochee
Starr’s Mill at Habersham Central
Class AAA
St. Pius at Perry
Veterans at Southeast Whitfield
Dalton at Cairo
Woodward Academy at Grovetown
Class AA
Cross Keys at Toombs County
Westminster at Pike County
Thomasville or Morgan County at GAC
Dublin at North Oconee
Class A
Hebron Christian at Pace Academy
Providence Christian at Savannah Country Day
Walker at Brookstone
Aquinas at Paideia
Girls
Class AAAAA
Walton at East Coweta
Collins Hill at Harrison
Kennesaw Mountain at North Gwinnett
Hillgrove at Mill Creek
Class AAAA
Whitewater at Pope
Union Grove at Lambert
Starr’s Mill at Marist
South Forsyth at McIntosh
Class AAA
St. Pius at Mary Persons
Allatoona at Spalding
Howard at Carrollton
West Laurens at Woodward Academy
Class AA
Westminster at St. Vincent’s
GAC at Pike County
Thomasville at Blessed Trinity
Lovett at Dublin
Class A
Athens Academy at Holy Innocents’
Paideia at Savannah Country Day
Pace Academy at First Presbyterian
Walker at Fellowship Christian
Note: Girls games are scheduled for Friday and boys games are Saturday, but the GHSA will allow schools with both teams remaining to play a doubleheader on one night or the other. Check with the particular school to get the exact schedule.
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