Roswell, Pike County girls; River Ridge, Drew Charter boys win titles as GHSA soccer season comes to an end

River Ridge and Drew Charters boys and Pike County and Roswells girls won titles in the final matches of the GHSA soccer season at Mercer University in Macon and Duluth High School.

At Duluth

Class 5A

Girls: Roswell 1, Northgate 0

Roswell won the programs first-ever championship in 2023 and after a goal from Natalie Brooks at the 17:41 mark in the second half, coupled with stifling defense, the Hornets are champions again.

Brooks was named the Wendys Most Valuable Player for Roswell. The Hornets entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed from Region 7 and beat Riverwood 3-1, Lakeside-DeKalb 10-0, Habersham Central 4-1 and Pope 3-1 in the semifinals.

Northgate was trying for the programs second state championship after winning the Class 5A championship in 2013.

Boys: River Ridge 3, Sprayberry 2 (PKs)

River Ridge won the programs first-ever title last season and since, the Knights dont know what it means to lose a championship after successfully defending against Sprayberry.

Goalie Graycen Vanwilder was named the Wendys Most Valuable Player after key saves helped secure the title for River Ridge.

Eric Cruz put Sprayberry ahead 1-0 at 15:18 left in the first half on a penalty kick. Reed McClure tied the contest in the second half with 17:42 left. Caua Siqueira gave Sprayberry the 2-1 lead with 14:41 left in the second half but McClures equalizer with 2:16 left in regulation sent the match into overtime and penalty kicks.

At Mercer University

Class 2A

Girls: Pike County 6, Savannah Arts 5

Pike Countys first-ever state championship came at the end of a back-and-forth scoring affair but in the end, a game-winner from Olivia Park at the 35:17 mark of the second half proved to be the dagger. Park was named the Wendys Most Valuable Player for her efforts.

Pike went ahead on goals from Anna Bottoms (:27, first half) and Jacey Fillingim (1:09, first half). Savannah Arts tied the match with goals from Amelia Reci (1:20, first half) and Angie Oetting (4:56, first half). Bottoms put Pike ahead 3-2 with a goal at the 16:54 mark of the first half and Park added a late goal to push the margin to 4-2.

Oetting cut into the lead with a goal at the 2:06 mark of the second half but Park responded with a goal at the 8:38 mark to expand the lead. Reci scored back-to-back goals at 11:07 and 28:16 in the second half to tie the match, setting up Parks game-winner.

Boys: Drew Charter 5, Shaw 1

Drew Charter had little trouble with Shaw on the way to a 5-1 victory and the programs first-ever state championship.

Julian Carlson scored first with 27:05 in the first half. Finnegan Lakes expanded the lead at 28:23 in the first half and Judah Schott added a late first-half goal to give Drew a 3-0 lead into halftime.

Camryn Tharp cut into the lead for Shaw with a goal at 3:41 in the second half but two goals by Austin Smith at 14:13 and 27:17 in the second half put the match away. Smith was named the Wendys Most Valuable Player for Drew Charter.