MACON—The St. Andrew's School girls' soccer team's memorable playoff run ended Tuesday night (May 27, 2025) with a 2-0 loss in the Georgia Independent Athletic Association (GIAA) Class 3A girls state championship game at Stratford Academy in Macon. Facing back-to-back GIAA state champions Frederica Academy, a team chasing a third straight title, the Lions (9-6-2) showed heart, grit, and resilience—traits that defined their season.
An early goal in the first minute of play put St. Andrew's behind, but the Lions didn't back down. The Lions' Head coach, Ben Dombroski, said the team responded how he hoped they would, showing the same fight that powered them through the semifinals.
"You know, we gave up an early one again—it looked like the semifinals," said Dombroski. "I don't know if that's nerves or just that they kind of took a chance that they had. What we're looking for then is the kind of response that we saw in the semifinal where we just came right back."
That response nearly produced an equalizer midway through the first half. Junior McKenna Riley made a late run to the top of the box and delivered a strike that looked destined to go in. Instead, the ball struck the goal crossbar, denying the Lions their best scoring chance.
"In a lot of ways, we did have that response," Dombroski continued. "We were kind of galvanized. We played some great balls into good spaces. McKenna smashed it and it was a great ball, and she hit it clean. Just unlucky."
The Knights extended their lead in the 22nd minute, capitalizing on a short corner that led to a chaotic scramble in the box, leaving the Lions trailing 2-0. The match was halted with just under five minutes left in the first half due to lightning, leading to a two-hour delay. When play resumed, Coach Dombroski noted that the field remained in good condition, though it was a bit slick.
Despite the conditions and the scoreline, St. Andrew's never quit.
"I think the girls all believe in themselves and believe in each other," said Dombroski. "We gave up that early goal but responded within a minute. Then we fell behind again—and came right back again. That's the story of this team."
As Coach Dombroski looked back on the season, he noted it had been a journey marked by growth, challenges, and remarkable progress—particularly within the local soccer community.
"One of the things we set out to do this season, both in terms of scheduling and in terms of goals, was to become part of the conversation more within Savannah," he said. "Playing in GIAA, our region is mostly teams outside of Savannah—Frederica, Westminster, Bulloch. But we wanted to see where we stood in the city."
The Lions scheduled local matchups throughout the year and held their own, earning a draw against Savannah Country Day and competitive outings versus St. Vincent's and Jenkins.
"We feel like now we can become part of the Savannah story of soccer programs," Dombroski added. "There were a lot of great individual performances, but it was also a season of getting some players who wouldn't even identify as soccer players to the level where they could be part of a first state championship. That was really important to us too."
With key players like Riley returning and the program establishing a sense of identity, St. Andrew's looks to build on this foundation heading into next season.
St. Andrew's School 2025 Varsity Girls Soccer Roster
| Number | Name | Grade |
| 8 | Sydney Berkman | 12th |
| 19 | Nadya Doscher | 12th |
| 14 | Gray Holmes | 12th |
| 12 | Sydney Mims | 12th |
| 0 | Coco Carnahan | 11th |
| 7 | Sage Lough | 11th |
| 11 | Sarah Carr MacDonald | 11th |
| 17 | Makenna Riley | 11th |
| 10 | Orly Standing | 11th |
| 22 | Maren Wrieden | 11th |
| 3 | Scarlett Holmes | 10th |
| 9 | Avery Nein | 10th |
| 24 | Mara Damron | 9th |
| 2 | Valerie Ward | 9th |
| Head Coach | Ben Dombroski |
PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy St. Andrew's School Marketing Department
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