Panthers, HC girls find success on road

From Staff Reports

Following a long road trip to Bulloch County Wednesday, the Perry High boys soccer team stunned Statesboro High with a 3-0 shutout victory in the opening round of the GHSA AAAA playoffs. The Panthers of head coach Nathan Dooley are advancing to the ‘Sweet 16’ round this coming Wednesday and will face Spalding High in Griffin.

“We had possession most of the first half but missed on some key breakaways,” said Dooley. “Daniel Ward had a header off a corner kick that hit the crossbar near the end of the first half.  Sean Swan also had a great save for Perry to keep the tie going into the half.

“I told the boys at the half to keep their composure and keep pressing and the goals would come.”

Perry still dominated possession in the second half, Dooley said. Ward broke the tie with a breakaway goal about 10 minutes in. Ward scored a second goal and Bryce Struckmeyer added the third off a deflection from the keeper on a corner kick.

“This was a big win for us and I am proud of how hard all our boys played,” said Dooley. “We had quality minutes from all of our players. We ended the season playing well and continued that level of play. We are going to ride this momentum into the second round.”

LADY BEARS

As the third place team from Region 2-AAAAA, the Houston County High girls soccer team went to the state’s east coast Tuesday and defeated Richmond Hill High by a score of 2-1. Up next in the ‘Sweet 16’ round this coming Tuesday is a road trip to Whitewater High in Fayette County.

Richmond Hill scored first at the 11-minute mark. Then Lady Bear Lizzy Upchurch scored two goals, one in the 30th minute assisted by Rachel Preston, the second in the 34th minute assisted by Jasmine Johnson.

Brook Neville had eight saves in goal for coach Sid Baxley. He said they threatened often in the second half but could never put another one through.

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