Wildcats rally to beat GAC in 2-1 thriller By David Rutz
drutz@neighbornewspapers.com Chandler Gay, assisted Jack Kidd on the game-winning goal Saturday in a 2-1 win over Greater Atlanta Christian for the Class AA state championship.When Westminster escaped a possible 1-0 deficit less than a minute into Saturday’s Class AA soccer state championship game, the team felt it could survive anything.Turns out the Wildcats were right.Some gutsy saves by goalkeeper Andrew Freschi and two second-half goals rallied the Wildcats to a 2-1 victory over Greater Atlanta Christian, giving Westminster its first state championship in boys’ soccer since 2007 after falling in its last two title game appearances, most recently in 2009 to GAC.“It was nice to get back to being a champion again,” said Westminster coach Scott Snyder.Freschi saved a penalty kick after GAC was fouled just 25 seconds into the game, and even after the Spartans took a 1-0 lead later in the action, Westminster knew it could hang in.“That was probably almost as critical as anything else,” Snyder said. “They had a point-blank shot, and our keeper made a great save on it. From there, we built on that.”Josh Bennett drew a foul in the second half, and Tyler Hilliard converted the penalty kick to tie the game at 1. Then, with less than six minutes remaining, Jack Kidd scored the go-ahead goal on an assist from Chandler Gay.The Wildcats were excited but Kidd’s goal wasn’t a game-winner until they outlasted the Spartans to the last whistle at GAC’s home field.“You had to temper it because you’ve got five more minutes,” Snyder said.Freschi and the rest of the defense had to counter three corner kicks and two direct kicks in the furious final minutes to preserve the victory and the championship.“You’d have to give them the edge in terms of holding onto the ball, but we were able to take advantage of our chances better than they were,” Snyder said. “It was really a team win, though.”In the Class A playoffs, Pace Academy fell in the Final Four to Providence Christian, 4-1 on May 11.In girls’ soccer, Lovett fell 2-1 in a hard-fought game with top-ranked Blessed Trinity May 10. After conceding a goal in the opening minute, the Lions (15-4-1) tied it in the 52nd minute when M.C. Battle headed in a corner kick by Allison Bond into the far post. However, BT scored again with 20 minutes left on a deflection and held on to advance to the state championship game, which they won 1-0 Saturday over Greater Atlanta Christian.Westminster fell to Greater Atlanta Christian, 3-1, May 10 in the other semifinal.

Blessed Trinity freshman Delaney Fechalos converted a penalty kick with 2:37 left in the second overtime to give the Titans a 1-0 win over Greater Atlanta Christian and the Class AA State Championship.

Both teams played an extremely hard-fought match throughout regulation and both teams had chances to score.  However, neither team was able to break the scoreless tie in regulation, or in the first five minute overtime period.

The Lady Spartans asserted their aggressiveness on offense in the later stages of regulation and very nearly got a goal.  With a little over 17 minutes left in regulation,  sophomore forward Rachel Garcia drilled a shot that hit the crossbar and almost went into the net.  Earlier in the second half, senior defender Anna Douglas took a long free kick that sailed over the crossbar.  In spite of their efforts, the Lady Spartans were unable to break through and the game went into overtime. 

The first five minute overtime produced no goals, so the game went onto a second five minute overtime.  With 2:37 left in the second OT period, a Blessed Trinity player was fouled in the box and the Lady Titans were awarded a penalty kick. Freshman Delaney Fechalos stepped up and took a low shot underneath the GAC keeper to give Blessed Trinity the 1-0 lead and eventually the State Title.

"It never gets old.  This year, it was even more fun because we had such a young team.  We started 4 to 5 freshman", Blessed Trinity head coach Jean Batiste said. 

"GAC's offense was awesome, but we weathered the storm.  We made some mistakes.  We were young on the field, but we got it done", Batiste said.

Blessed Trinity has now won their fifth state championship in girls soccer.  The last win came in 2008. They finish the 2011 season as Class AA State Champions with a record of 19-2-1.  GAC, the Class AA State Runner Up, finishes the season at 16-3-2.

 

The Gainesville boys soccer team battled for 80 minutes but couldn't break down an organized St. Pius defense en route to a 2-0 loss on Wednesday in Atlanta.

The defeat knocked the Red Elephants (15-4) out of the playoffs and ensured there will be a new Class AAA champ in 2011.

"I'm proud of the way we fought, and I hurt for the boys," Gainesville coach Rick Howard said. "Give credit to St. Pius. They were very well-organized and well-coached."

The Golden Lions (17-0-1) scored on a free kick midway through the first half and led 1-0 at halftime. The Red Elephants pushed forward in search of an equalizer in the second half and were caught on defense late in the contest, giving up a second goal with 1:30 left to play.

"We fell short of what we wanted to do this season," Howard said. "But our seniors have had a great four years here, and in January we'll start it back up again and see where we are."

Gainesville graduates five seniors but returns the bulk of a team that finished second in Region 8-AAA this season.