Girls soccer playoffs: 5 NEGa area teams look for state title berths

For Buford, Jefferson, Cherokee Bluff, and Towns County, Thursday’s semifinal showdowns in the Georgia High School Association girls soccer playoffs will be nothing new.

All four have been into the Final Four within the past three seasons, with Buford, Jefferson, and Towns County all advancing to championship matches at some point in their program histories. 

Buford lost in the 2017 Class 5A title match; Jefferson lost in the 2022 4A title match; and Towns County lost in the title match in Class A Division 2 in 2023. Bluff’s only trip to the semifinals ended in 2022 in Class 3A. None have been able to claim a state title.

Dawson County, meanwhile, is crashing the Final Four party for the first time as a program. The Lady Tigers, ranked fifth in Class 3A, knocked off No. 8 Pike County, 3-2, on the road in the Elite 8 on Monday, notching the program’s first-ever quarterfinals win.

On Thursday, however, the task gets considerably tougher as they travel to No. 1-ranked and defending state champion Oconee County, who booted them from the 2023 playoffs in the first round.

Dawson County coach Chess Hamby said it’s a positive to make history but knows first-hand the challenge that awaits.

“(To be in the Final Four) is huge for us. We have had so many great teams that have accomplished so much, but we have never been able to make it past the (Elite 8). There is a lot of excitement for these girls around here,” he said.

“But we know first-hand how great Oconee County is. They are a solid team with few weaknesses. They have a very strong midfield that really seems to control the game. (Freshman) Mattie Kane Rozar jumps out on film immediately. She is a complete player and will be a challenge for us to defend.”

Oconee County (15-1-5) is 4-0-3 at home in 2024, while the Lady Tigers (14-4) are just 4-3 on the road. But two of those wins have come in the playoffs.

Hamby said how they handle the hostile environment could determine if they can take that next step.

“We will have to continue to handle the pressure of these moments,” he said. “There is a lot on the line but it still comes down to the simple things and which team can handle the pressure. This is the time of the year where the playmakers have to show up.”

For Towns County, this is the fourth consecutive trip to the Final Four, the first two in Class A Public and the last two in Class A D2.

Lady Indians’ coach Clay Livingston heaped praise on his seniors, who have never failed to make a Final Four and are looking to add the final piece of their journey -- a first-ever championship. 

“We haven't had but a couple of kids since I have been here to play any type of club ball,” he said. “It is tough at a school this size with so many of our girls playing multiple sports and being involved with various clubs, working jobs, and just taking some time to be a high school kid. We try to balance everything so our girls have a great high school experience, but of course, sacrifices have to be made to have success.”

Towns County (11-2) brings in an eight-game winning streak, but that followed a 1-0 loss to Aquinas (8-5), whom they meet in the semifinals in Augusta, and a loss to Lake Oconee Academy.

It is also a rematch of last year’s Class A D2 championship match, won by Aquinas 5-2 in Macon. Towns lost 1-0 this season at home in the regular season but the Lady Indians are 6-0 on the road in 2024.

Is it “state title or bust” for the Lady Indians after three straight near-misses?

“Aquinas presents a huge challenge for us,” Livingston said. “If we do not win it all this year, I will obviously be disappointed for our kids, especially the seniors. But I will be more proud of what we have accomplished because I know firsthand the amount of effort and sacrifice that has been made in the last four or five years. This program will never be defined by one game.”

Class 7A notebook: The rankings were true in this classification as the four semifinalists all were ranked in the top 5. North Gwinnett, ranked fifth, knocked off No. 3 Harrison. Buford (1st), West Forsyth (2nd), and Walton (4th) all advanced. ... Walton is the only team to return to the semifinals from last year and was the state runner-up in 2023. North Gwinnett (2019) and West Forsyth (2021 & 2022) have won state titles in the last five years in the highest classification.

Class 5A notebook: The rankings were close in this classification as well. Jefferson (1st), GAC (2nd), Cambridge (3rd), and McIntosh (6th) all advanced to the Final Four. ... This will be the second straight top four-ranked team for the Lady Dragons, who beat Northgate (4th) in the quarterfinals. ... It will be the third straight ranked opponent for GAC, who beat No. 8 Midtown in the second round and No. 10 Northside-Columbus on Monday. ... None of the four teams advanced past the Elite 8 in 2023. However, both GAC and McIntosh have won titles before. GAC's last title was 2015 (2A). The Lady Spartans also claimed three titles from 2012-2015. ... McIntosh won its last title in 2019 (5A) but has won six titles since 2011. Neither Jefferson nor Cambridge have won state titles.

Class 4A notebook: As in 7A and 5A, the rankings played out. Lovett (1st), Westminster (2nd), Bluff (4th), and North Oconee (5th) all advanced to the semifinals. Bluff is the odd team out, as the other three have all won state titles. Westminster, the defending 4A champion, has won 8 straight state titles and 9 of 10 going back to 2013. Lovett won 2A titles in 2021 & 2022 and North Oconee won 4A in 2021 and was the runner-up to Westminster in 2023.

Class 3A notebook: All four teams are ranked in the top 7. Oconee County (2nd) is the defending champion with Wesleyan (1st), who was the 2023 state runner-up. Columbus is 6th and Dawson County 7th. ... Dawson County is into its first-ever Final 4 in program history. ... The Lady Tigers lost 9-1 to Wesleyan early in the regular season.

Class A D2 notebook: The rankings were almost true to form in this classification as well, and it may be as balanced a Final 4 as in any classification. It also showed that Region 3 is, without a doubt, the power region. No. 1 Lake Oconee Academy, No. 2 Aquinas, No. 4 Atlanta Classical Academy, and No. 5 Towns County all advanced. LOA, Aquinas, and Towns all reside in Region 3. ... Towns County, which is into its fourth consecutive Final 4, travels to Aquinas in a rematch of last year’s state title game, won by Aquinas. However, both of those teams lost to LOA during the regular season.