JPII teams, HT boys advance in SCISA soccer playoffs
The SCISA soccer playoffs got under way for the girls on Monday and the boys on Tuesday, and a trio of Beaufort-area squads are still in the mix for state titles.
John Paul II and Holy Trinity rolled to easy victories in the boys first round, and the Golden Warriors rallied for a thrilling golden-goal win in the SCISA 2A girls bracket.
Here’s a look at the first-round action.
GIRLS
John Paul II 2, Spartanburg Day 1
After falling behind early, the Golden Warriors rallied to win on the road in the first round and earn another road trip to face Christian Academy of Myrtle Beach on Wednesday.
Emma Sauls found the equalizer late in the first half, and after a scoreless second half and overtime, Paige Weniger scored the golden goal off an assist from Trinity Grace Maxwell to give JPII a hard-fought victory.
Charleston Collegiate 3, Holy Trinity 1
After winning back-to-back SCISA 1A titles, the Mighty Lions struggled through a tough 2022 campaign that ended with a first-round playoff defeat to the Sundevils.
BOYS
John Paul II 8, Greenwood Christian 0
It was smooth sailing in the first round for the Golden Warriors, who haven’t lost to a SCISA opponent this season — their only losses have come against Class 4A foes Beaufort High and Bluffton.
Eight different players scored a goal each for JPII: Nic Richardson, Colin Anfinson, Brennan McDermott, Mark Knight, Jackson Ogden, Anthony Hill, Jackson Sanders, and Finn Mahoney. Anfinson, Hill, and Knight also contributed assists, as did Larry Racey-Rubacaldo, William Rooney, and Chris Orta. The JPII defense stifled the Hawks’ attack all night, and Evan Slusne made seven saves in his seventh consecutive shutout.
JPII (14-2) will face Spartanburg Day at home on Thursday.
Northwood Academy 3, Beaufort Academy 1
The Eagles’ remarkable turnaround season ran out of steam in the first round of the playoffs, as a strong Northwood squad went on the road to oust BA, whose inexperience in the postseason showed up Tuesday afternoon.
BA had a tough time getting in a rhythm on offense and had numerous miscommunications on defense leading to an early 2-0 deficit before Evan Rankin pulled one back before halftime. BA finished 11-4-1 under first-year head coach Ian Leslie and returns numerous starters, including all-region selections Rankin and Zeke Gonzalez.
Holy Trinity 4, The King’s Academy 1
The Mighty Lions rolled to a big win at home as Holy Trinity kicked off its SCISA 1A title defense. Holy Trinity travels to Christian Academy of Myrtle Beach for a semifinal matchup on Thursday.
