All coaches will tell you the name of the game in the postseason is to win and advance.
The Apalachee High School boys soccer team did just that last week by knocking off Paulding County 1-0 in a defensive struggle in the opening round of the Class AAAA state playoffs.
The road win for coach Chad Hooper’s Wildcats sets up a second-round showdown with top-ranked McIntosh today (Wednesday) in Peachtree City. The Chiefs are 18-1 this spring and will be the toughest foe AHS has faced in 2009 and perhaps in the program’s history.
The Wildcats will enter the second round matchup with an 11-5-1 record.
In the win against Paulding County, AHS had a chance to score a minute into the match when Nestor Garcia just missed an attempt which bounced off the crossbar. Later, however, the Wildcats delivered on a goal from Adam Porter. That score held up as goalkeeper Cesar Saucedo blanked Paulding for the one-goal win.
Playing up to its potential will be key for AHS in the next round.
“We are a very good team who has had some ups and downs this season,” said coach Chad Hooper. “However, I think we can upset McIntosh.We will have to finish on any and every opportunity because I don’t feel there will be many.”
The AHS coach said McIntosh has proven with its record how strong a team it is. However, Hooper noted McIntosh is the only team from its region to advance while three from 8-AAAA advanced by defeating higher seeds.
