Tucker’s Noah Johnson (11) gets in front of Drew’s Justin Romero (7) during first half play in the Class 5A boys’ state playoffs. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Overtime goals by Noah Johnson and Happy Agaba propelled the No. 7 ranked Tucker Tigers into the Class 5A boys’ Sweet 16 with a 2-0 first round victory over the Drew Titans at Adams Stadium on Wednesday night.
The game went to overtime tied 0-0 and the first 10-minute overtime period was coming to a close with the teams still scoreless. Then a fortunate sequence of events led to Johnson’s go-ahead goal with 14.7 seconds left.
Tucker got the ball into the box and shot was blocked by Drew goalie Anthony Gomez. The ball bounded away and a Tiger pushed it towards the goal only to have Drew defender Kevin Ramirez contort his body and get a foot on the ball to pop it up and away from the goal.
Gomez came flying in, jumped and tapped the ball over his head back into the field where a leaping Johnson played it off his body and I not the goal to make it 1-0 in favor of the Tigers.
Drew tried to force the ball up the field in a game that been very physical and lost the ball as the combatants bumped each other. A penalty brought out a yellow card on a Titan who promptly turned it into a red card to get ejected from the game.
Tucker took advantage of Drew having to play a man down and Happy Agaba picked up a goal with 6:20 to play in the second overtime period to make it 2-0.
Physical play continued leading to a few more yellow cards as the clock ticked down to zero and a Tucker victory.
Defense had been a big part of the game throughout regulation as the teams combined for just 11 total shots.
Tucker (11-4-4) moves on to host Bradwell Institute (12-4-2), a 6-1 winner over Locust Grove (10-4-1) on Wednesday, in the second round of the Class 5A state playoffs on Tuesday at Adams Stadium with a time to be announced.
Chamblee’s Daniel Chavez shoots during first half action of the Bulldogs 4-2 Class 5A boys’ state playoff win over Harris County. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Chamblee 4, Harris County 2
The Chamblee Bulldogs quelled a late Harris County rally to hold on for a 4-2 victory in their Class 5A boys’ state playoff opening round game at North DeKalb Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
Leading 3-0 with 27:14 left on the game clock, the Bulldogs let James McLaughlin get free in the Chamblee end of the field. McLaughlin went one-on-one with Chamblee goalie Julian Quirk and came away with a goal to cut the lead to 3-1.
The Tigers closed the gap to 3-2 on a goal with 4:26 to play and Chamblee answered quickly to end any real hope of the Tigers. Chamblee took the kickoff and raced down the field on a two-on-one with Travis Conner and Henry Peacock racing towards the goal.
Conner left a pass for Peacock that led to an easy tap in for the goal just 13 seconds after the Tigers had closed within one.
It was the second time in the game the pair had teamed up for a goal as Conner made a big save on ball that looked to be going out of bounds. He then got the ball to Peacock who dribbled to his left and drilled a shot into the net to make it 3-0 with 27:14 to play.
Chamblee’s Mario Hernandez picked up a fortunate goal with 14:13 left in the first half as Harris keeper Cason Knotts deflected a pass in front of the goal. Hernandez swooped in and tapped the ball into the corner of the net to make it 1-0 in favor of the Bulldogs (6-8-2).
The score remained 1-0 at the half and less than four minutes into the second half Grant Polk crossed to the front of the box to Daniel Chavez who blasted a shot past Knotts just under the bar to make it 2-0.
Chamblee advances to the Sweet 16 and must travel to No. 4 ranked Greenbrier (16-0-0), an 8-1 winner over Eagle’s Landing (4-6-0), on Tuesday with a time to be determined.
McIntosh 3, Cross Keys 2
The Cross Keys Indians went on the road and gave the No. 1 ranked McIntosh Chiefs all they wanted before falling 3-2 in the opening round of the Class 5A boys’ state playoffs.
McIntosh (17-0-1) looked to be in control when the Chiefs scored a goal just 11 seconds into the second half to make it a 3-0 lead.
Cross Keys (9-6-2) did not quit scoring four minutes later to cut the lead to 3-1. The Indians then were within 3-2 with six minutes to play. McIntosh held on to close out the win.
In other scores, Ringgold (8-4-2) defeated Cedar Grove (3-8-1) 4-0 at Godfrey Stadium in Class 3A boys’ soccer action. McIntosh (13-3-2) ended the season for the Arabia Mountain Lady Rams (11-4) via a 10-0 victory at McIntosh.
Three girls’ teams go on the road on Thursday night in first round state soccer action. Lakeside (8-8-0) travels to Woodward Academy (10-4-0) for a 6:00 pm start. Clarkston (10-7-0) travels to Lovett (12-6-0) in Class 4A girls play while Druid Hills (7-8-2) goes to Pace Academy (7-3-4) in another Class 4A match.
DCSD STATE SOCCER PLAYOFFS RESULTS
Wednesday, 4/12
CLASS 5A BOYS
ADAMS STADIUM
Tucker (11-4-4) 2, Drew (7-3-1) 0
NORTH DEKALB STADIUM
Chamblee (6-8-2) 4, Harris Co. (7-10-1) 2
AWAY
McIntosh (18-0-1) 3, Cross Keys (9-6-2) 2
CLASS 5A GIRLS
McIntosh (13-3-2) 10, Arabia Mountain (11-4-0) 0
CLASS 3A BOYS
GODFREY STADIUM
Ringgold (8-4-2) 4, Cedar Grove (3-8-1) 0
DCSD STATE SOCCER PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE
Thursday, 4/13
CLASS 6A GIRLS
AWAY
Lakeside (8-8-0) at Woodward Academy (10-4-0), 6:00 pm
CLASSS 4A GIRLS
AWAY
Druid Hills (7-8-2) at Pace Academy (7-3-4), 7:00 pm
Clarkston (10-7-0) at Lovett (12-6-0), 6:00 pm
CLASS 4A BOYS
AWAY
Clarkston (12-4-2) at Lovett (13-5-0), 8:00 pm
Friday, 4/14
CLASS 6A BOYS
AWAY
Dunwoody (9-8-1) at Forest Park (11-3-2), 6:00 pm
Lakeside (6-8-3) at Woodward Academy (8-5-1), 6:30 pm
CLASS 4A BOYS
ADAMS STADIUM
Pace Academy (7-3-5) at Druid Hills (12-5-1), 8:00 PM
CLASS 2A BOYS
AVONDALE STADIUM
Mt. Paran Christian (7-7-0) at Towers (10-2-1), 6:00 pm