Full disclosure, it was a rough opening round of the Georgia High School Association boys soccer playoffs for Northeast Georgia-area teams.
Only five of 15 teams made it out of the first round, though three were one-goal losses and two others by two goals or less. And one team -- East Hall -- had to survive a nine-round shutout phase to advance. However, defending Class 5A state champion Johnson in Class 4A and West Hall in Class 3A rolled to big wins in the first round.
The second round, which will take place on Tuesday and Thursday, promises to offer more challenges for several teams.
Region 8-5A champion Flowery Branch (10-5-3) survived a tough match with Cartersville and now will play host to a dangerous Cambridge (7-7-3) team which took out No. 6 Villa Rica on the road last week.
The Spartans (7-7-1) will have a huge test traveling to No. 2-ranked Coahulla Creek (15-1-2) which has won 10 straight. However, the Spartans knocked off the Colts at West Hall Stadium in last year's Elite 8 round, 4-0.
Class 4A fourth-ranked East Hall (13-3) got another home match after 10th-ranked Clarkston (12-5-1) knocked off Region 5-4A champion Lovett 1-0 on the road last week. The Vikings may be in for another nail-biting finish.
Union County (10-3) will travel to take on No. 3 Walker (12-4), looking for its second straight road win in the playoffs.
(Check below for the entire boys second round playoff schedule.)
BOYS SOCCER PLAYOFFS, 2nd round, Tuesday, April 18
Class 5A
Cambridge (R6, S3) at Flowery Branch (R8, S1), 7:30 p.m.
Class 3A
West Hall (R7, S3) at Coahula Creek (R6, S1), 6 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER PLAYOFFS, 2nd round, Thursday, April 20
Class 4A
Clarkston (R6, S4) at East Hall (R8, S2), 7 p.m.
Holy Innoncents' (R6, S3) at Johnson (R8, S1), 7 p.m.
Class 2A
Union County (R8, S3) at The Walker School (R6, S1), TBA
