Clarke Central High School midfielder Lucas Stewart, a senior, dribbles past two Lithia Springs High School defenders at Billy Henderson Stadium on Apr. 17. While going into his final playoff series in high school, center back Augie Koons, a senior, had mixed feelings during the LSHS game. “(Since) it is my senior season one mistake can end my entire soccer career,” Koons said. “But also it’s exciting because we have high ambitions and this was just the first step so it was exciting to get the first game done.” Photo by Daniel Cruz
In the first round of GHSA AAAAA soccer state playoffs, the CCHS boys varsity soccer team dominated Lithia Springs High School 5-0.
The Clarke Central High School varsity soccer team won 5-0 against Lithia Springs High School in the first round of the GHSA AAAAA soccer state playoffs on April 17 in Billy Henderson Stadium.
CCHS came into the game with a 14-0-2 record in the regular season and 6-0 in the region. The team was ranked 11th in Georgia and 1st in the region respectively. The win boosted the Gladiators to 9th in Georgia.
“(Going into the game) we felt really confident, not because we thought our opponents were bad or anything, we didn’t take them lightly at all,” center back Augie Koons, a senior, said. “We knew how good we (were) and felt confident coming into the playoffs in general.”
Despite Koons’ confidence, the Glads came out slowly. It wasn’t until the 35-minute mark that the action heated up. Within five minutes, a header from CCHS forward Owen Barnett established a 1-0 lead, which was followed by several saves from CCHS goalkeeper Wyatt Meyer to maintain their lead. In rapid succession, the Gladiators tripled their lead with tap-in goals from forward Henry Payne and midfielder Lucas Stewart to end the half 3-0.
“We always want to keep pushing momentum (and) suffocate the other team,” head boys varsity soccer coach Chris Aiken said. “(The) last thing I said to them right at halftime was to suffocate them, not let them out of their half, not give them any opportunities going forward.”
The second half started with the Gladiators dominating the ball on offense and putting pressure on LSHS. This on-ball pressure approach resulted in a brace by Stewart and a final brace for Payne, ending the game 5-0, in favor of the Gladiators.
Clarke Central High School head boys varsity soccer coach Chris Aiken talks to his players mid-game at Billy Henderson Stadium on April 17. During their dominant run, Aiken had strong confidence in his players after gaining a strong lead early on. “As long as the offense (can) put two or three in the back of the net, the rest of the team will do their job to close out the game for us,” Aiken said. “Once we got that third and fourth goal, I felt very confident that we could get five, six (and) seven at that point.” Photo by Daniel Cruz
“I thought we all played really well together,” Koons said. “I think we could have scored more than five goals and we’re just gonna keep working on getting better (until) the next game when we win that one, to the next game, and so forth.”
With CCHS’ dominant performance in the first round, Aiken believes the team will improve going forward.
“It felt great (that) we won the game, I wasn’t worried about the five-zero win but anytime you put five in, (it) shows the consistency of our offense,” Aiken said. “It also benefits me as the coach to open the door to get everyone on the field and playing time in a playoff game, which I think is important for team morale (and) momentum heading forward (into the series).”
