Westminster advanced to the Class AA boys soccer final after a dramatic win Wednesday night over arch rival Lovett in penalty kicks. The score was tied at 3-3 after regulation and a scoreless overtime. Freshman goalie Benton Wood of Westminster saved two Lovett penalty kicks, while all four Wildcats made their attempts to clinch the 4-3 edge in the shootout.
The Wildcats will have a chance to extend their state championship streak to three Saturday against Calhoun. Freshman Johnny Ostrowki scored two goals in regulation for Westminster while Georgia Tech football-signee Harrison Butker added a third. It was the third time this season Westminster has beaten Lovett in a penalty-kick shootout.
Class AAAAA
Houston County 5, Starr's Mill 0: Steven Moore scored in the opening minute to put host Houston County up 1-0. Drew Behrman netted a corner kick 12 minutes later, and Andrew Weber made the score 3-0. In the 37th minute Colin Little found Moore for his second goal, and the Bears led 4-0 at halftime. Houston County added a fifth score in the 77th minute. The Bears will play Saturday for their first state soccer title.
Class AAAA
Dalton 7, Spalding 0: Host Dalton had six different scorers. Alan Pantaleon got on the board first in the eighth minute, and Daniel Palacios scored one of his two goals minutes later. Kobe Perez and Ramiro Huitanda added goals to provide a 4-0 advantage at intermission. After Palacios' second score, Raymundo Bahena made the score 6-0 before Salvador Rodriguez added the final goal.
Southeast Whitfield 2, Northwest Whitfield 0 (OT): The region rivals went scoreless in regulation, but visiting Southeast Whitfield scored on two indirect goals in overtime. In the first overtime Erik Salaises assisted a Victor Garcia goal, and in the second overtime Alex Rosillo assisted Alex Garcia. Both goals came at the three-minute marks.
Class AAA
St. Pius 2, Oconee County 0: The Golden Lions scored 10 minutes into the second half to break open a scoreless game. Tyler Alexander found the back of the net off an assist from Alex Kowalski. With five minute left, J.D. Manzo put the game out of reach with a breakaway goal on a pass from Thomas Glenn. The Golden Lions made their third final in five years.
Woodward Academy 1, East Hall 0: Nolan Hall converted a penalty kick with 53 seconds remaining in the game to send Woodward Academy to its fourth consecutive final. Chris Kendall drew the penalty by beating three defenders in the box before being fouled.
Class AA
Calhoun 0 (4), Greater Atlanta Christian 0 (2) PKs: Calhoun keeper Raul Moreno stopped a GAC penalty kick in the first half before saving two of the Spartans' four penalty-kick opportunities in the shootout. Calhoun scored twice, once in the first half and one in overtime, but both goals were called back. The Yellow Jackets advanced to the first soccer finals appearance in school history.
Class A
Hebron Christian 5, First Presbyterian 1: Visiting Hebron Christian trailed 1-0 after Christian Moore scored off Cole Morton's pass with 20 minutes into the game. Bailey Pinto gave the Eagles the lead with two quick goals. Johnny Harden added another to build a 3-1 halftime advantage. Pinto added his third goal in the second half to extend the lead to 5-0.
Paideia 10, Savannah Christian 0: Host Paideia took a 6-0 halftime lead. Eli Pinner got the scoring started in the first half and added two in the second. Pinner has 40 goals this season. Quill Yates and Gustavo Martinez each had two goals. Sam Orr, Avery Yang and Malcolm Singleton each scored one, and the game was called with 15 minutes remaining. Paideia will try to win its first title Saturday.
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