Sports

Lady Eagles search for perfect end

• Terrell Academy’s girls soccer team faces Trinity Christian in tonight’s GISA Class A/AA semifinals for the right to play in Saturday’s title game.

Scott Chancey

DAWSON — There was hardly a cloud in the sky Monday while Terrell Academy’s girls soccer team entered the field.

The scene was perfect.

Although a 3-1 loss in March against LaGrange Academy kept the Lady Eagles’ season from being unblemished at 15-1, coach Patrick Cuff’s team is still hoping for a perfect ending. With a win against Trinity Christian (14-5) tonight at Mount de Sales’ Cavalier Fields, the program will reach its first-ever GISA Class A/AA state championship match.

“It feels good,” said Lady Eagles forward Julie Davis, who leads the team with 34 goals. “We’ve reached the goal to get to the Final Four. But we set a new goal and we just want to make it to the final game.”

If Terrell Academy, which defeated Holy Spirit Prep, 2-0, in the quarterfinals, reaches the title match, it will face the Pinecrest/Frederica winner at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the same venue.

Looking back on the season, that loss against LaGrange Academy was a turning point. The Lady Eagles bounced back the next night, beating Tiftarea, 8-2, and winning the next 10 matches after that, including a 2-1 win against LaGrange Academy in late April.

While the Lady Eagles are also led by Marlee Locke’s 20 goals, Alex Barfield’s 19 and Morgan Donaldson’s 17 goals and 20 assists, their main defensive focus is on Trinity Christian’s Anna Claire Knight.

Knight scored two goals during the 4-2 quarterfinal win against defending state champion Heritage School.

“They’re fast, especially in the middle and (Knight) likes to control it,” Cuff said. “We need to stop her. If we can stop her and put one or two in the net, we’ll be fine.”

One of Terrell Academy’s keys to stopping Trinity Christian is freshman goalkeeper Millie Foster, who only has allowed three goals all season.

“Millie Foster is a beast for us right now,” Cuff said. “She had so many great saves (against Holy Spirit Prep), she’s a big stopper for us. If we put one or two in the net, she’s good enough to stop them. I wish she could get more recognition than what she’s getting. She’s been just amazing for us this year.”

Foster knows she will face a formidable challenge in Trinity Christian, however.

“They have a really strong offense, and one girl (Knight) who goes really fast,” Foster said. “We’ve got to keep them wide and not give them any good runs.”

Another huge factor, besides Foster, could be freshman midfielder Kristin Waldal.

“She’s going to control our midfield for us like she has done all year long,” Cuff said. “If Kristin plays a good game, it will make our defense and offense easier. She serves the ball so well to Julie and Morgan and all the other forwards. A big key is Kristen and how she plays.”

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