The Richmond Hill boys soccer team won the 3-AAA region championship by defeating Harlem 5-1. The girls became the number three seeded 3-AAA team by blanking Cross Creek 15-0 on Thursday after downing Harlem on Tuesday.
In the boys’ championship game, Greyson Surges scored two goals while Ethan Vernon, Nic Harris and Sam Vernon scored one goal each. Jay Sipe had two assists while Zach Payne and Harris had one each.
The one goal Harlem made was off a free kick 19 minutes into the second half.
"Excellent, well-played game," Coach Wade Wright said. "We lost a little focus in the second half and gave up a goal, but I’m real proud at how we responded and scored 46 seconds later. I hope this is an indication of things to come. We will keep working and getting better. I am just so proud of this team."
The win guarantees the Wildcats home field advantage during the first two rounds of the state tournament.
The boys play a tune up game for the tournament April 16 at Savannah Christian, 5 p.m. kick-off.
Also on Tuesday, the girls swept Harlem 4-0 to advance to round two of the 3-AAA region tourney.
Lindsey Vasher scored two goals while Lori Barnes and Caitlyn Uhlig scored one each. Assists were garnered by Lauren Hall, Kristin Oddi and Azea Mustafa.
"Knowing that losing this game might mean the season would be over without the state playoffs, our girls came in focused mentally and emotionally to take care of business," Coach Steve Kollman said. "We controlled 75 of 80 minutes and had them on their heels most of the game."
This win makes it the eighth straight season that the RHHS girls have gone on to the state tournament, and it is the seventh year in a row that the team has earned double digit wins.
The win also allowed them to play in the second round on Thursday versus Cross Creek which they won 15-0.
The Lady Cats gained the momentum early, to the tune of three goals scored in the first six minutes, and just never lost it.
Lauren Hall scored three goals, Katie Berry and Lindsey Vasher got two, and the following girls each scored a goal: Lauren Regan, Azea Mustafa, Meghan Guarino, Anna Bausum, Lori Barnes, Jennifer Adams, Katie Hudson and Caroline Sipe.
Multiple assists were made by Mustafa (four), Vasher (three) and Berry (two). The following girls garnered one assist each: Sipe, Barnes, Guarino and Caitlyn Uhlig.
The team scored 83 goals this season which is the second highest total in team history. It also puts them third in the region. St. Vincent’s and Thomson are playing for the one and two spot.
"It was a fun game for the girls," Kollman said. "We were obviously the dominant team, the girls were mature enough to treat this game like a scrimmage by practicing some things they need they know they need to get better at, like passing, touches and clearing the ball in order to go deep in the state playoffs."
"Our rough stretch in the middle of season really helped our younger girls mature, refocus and see we needed to get better," Kollman continued. "As a result, we’ve seen a much stronger team the second half, and that’s why we are where we are in the standings. This was the 10th shutout for the season which is the same number as the senior-heavy team had last year."
Next up for the Lady Cats is a tune-up game for state April 14 versus Savannah Country Day.