Savannah Arts Academy girls’ soccer coach Jdhordane Williams understands that memories will be made on Friday, May 15, at 5 p.m. at Mercer University, when the Panthers play for the GHSA Class 2A state championship.
The coach would like his players’ experience to be as great as possible.
“Several people have told me already, ‘Coach, you guys need to try to enjoy this moment as much as possible,” Williams said before practice on Monday. “So, I’ve been trying to sell that exact feeling and sentiment to my girls, if they’re willing to. The nerves are going to be there, but let’s have a good time as well and enjoy the fact that you guys have made it to this point -- the first (soccer) team in school history to do so.”
The Panthers girls’ and boys’ soccer programs had never reached the state finals until this season, when SAA girls advanced to play Pike County in the title game at 5 p.m. Friday at Mercer University in Macon.
Players sensed this Panthers squad could be special even before the season started. Forward Angelina Oetting, one of nine seniors, said she noticed how many freshmen and sophomores showed up for training sessions around the beginning of the school year last September.
“Everybody was committed from the start, even freshmen whom we had never met,” Oetting said. “I think that really showed that we already were a tight-knit group before the season started.”
Oetting will attend Georgia Tech next fall and plans to major in chemistry, so she probably has a pretty good grasp on team bonding.
Senior defender Lula Tollison, who will attend the University of Georgia and major in hospitality and food industry management, noted the underclassmen have put in the work.
“It’s really cool to see how much passion they have for the sport,” she said.
This blend of experienced veterans and talented younger players still had to figure things out, especially on offense, Tollison said. However, concerns were lessened when SAA opened the season with a 4-1 victory over Savannah Country Day, another playoff team this season.
The Panthers have gone on to a 19-2 record, including four playoff victories. The most recent was last Thursday in the semifinals at Morris Field at Daffin Park in Savannah.
Panthers as avengers
The opponent was Morgan County, which added an extra layer to the narrative for Tollison. She’s the only member of the soccer team who also played on the volleyball squad this school year. Those Panthers had their best season in program history in reaching the state championship match, which they lost to Morgan County.
“Revenge,” she said of the soccer semifinal, which SAA won 3-2. “I think, for me, that was a big turning-around moment. I was like, this is happening now.
“Being able to beat them in soccer was really cool and, honestly, special because we’ve never made it this far.”
The novelty of the volleyball team’s first foray into a state championship setting, and now the girls soccer squad’s pending appointment in Macon, inspired Williams to ask Tollison to share her experience from last November with her current teammates. Perhaps it will help them handle any nervous energy on Friday.
“I told them about walking into the big stadium, to just take it all in for a second and then go focus your mind, take it in by yourself and re-collect with the team,” Tollison recalled of a meeting with fellow seniors last week. “It’s a lot of pressure walking into that atmosphere. I think taking it in by yourself and then going in and talking with team, getting hyped with the team.”
The players are excited, though they still have to handle their business, including academic demands. Seniors have concluded classwork and are taking advanced placement exams this week, while underclassmen still have classes. It’s also Senior Week at SAA with daily activities leading up to the Class of 2025’s graduation next Tuesday.
The schedule will be cleared for the team to leave Thursday afternoon after school for Macon and prepare to play Pike County (21-2, with both losses past regulation). The Pirates of Zebulon have their own designs on a state crown after reclassifying from 3A, where they were title contenders.
Pirates to watch
Pike County has outscored opponents 158-10, with much of the offense coming from senior captains Anna Bottoms (23 goals, 24 assists in 18 games) and Olivia Park (18 goals, 31 assists in 17 games); sophomores Sophie Moss (20, 12, 13) and Piper Jones (18, 9, 16); and freshman Jacey Fillingim (22, 17, 17).
The defense has a backstop in sophomore goalkeeper Morgan Wakeman (0.394 goals-against average in 19 games) and freshman Presli Readdy (0.00 GAA in 14).
“(Wakeman) is solid, doesn’t make too many mistakes,” SAA’s Williams said. “Anything you put on this keeper has got to be absolute quality.”
The coach has studied game film of Pike County, including strong challenges from Morgan County. The Pirates won both meetings, 2-1 on March 14 at Morgan County and 4-1 at home on April 4. He’s looking at Pike County’s formations, tactics in dead-ball situations and what might be exploited with counterattacks.
“I know what their strengths are,” Williams said. “I know where our deficiencies are and what we need to try to pick up on and try to fix in the next couple of days.”
The Panthers once again will turn to its outstanding blend of upper- and underclassmen on offense and defense, resulting in a 147-15 goal differential this season.
Junior captain and goalkeeper Kate Brunson had a 2.149 GAA, 37 saves, and eight shutouts in 17 games.
“She has played with tremendous heart and a great work ethic,” Williams said after the semifinals victory. “I’m extremely proud of her. She’s done a fantastic job. She plays much bigger than her size.”
Sophomore forward Jordan Gunn had 39 goals and 23 assists in 16 games, while junior captain Amelia Reci had 34 goals and eight assists through 14 games. Senior captain Ava Thomas (12, 14, 17) and senior Oetting (11, nine, 16), and freshman Brooklyn Linstroth (12, five, 14) also have eye-catching offensive statistics.
Senior captain Serra Olin, senior Tollison, sophomore sweeper Elena Laygo and freshman midfielder Amelia Tvrdy are among the teammates who also have impacted the Panthers’ run to the state title game.
Photo Credits: Courtesy Savannah Arts Academy
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