Dunwoody Girls Blanked by Flowery Branch in State Playoffs, 2-0

From Staff Reports

FLOWERY BRANCH - In what started out as a season full of promise, ended with heartache and pain Tuesday as the visiting No. 4 seed lost 2-0 versus No. 1 seed Flowery Branch in the first round of the Georgia High School Association Class AAAA Girls’ Soccer Tournament.

Dunwoody had a tough time moving the ball as it was outshot 40-3. After noticing that Dunwoody was unable to sustain any offense in the first half, Flowery Branch's coach Katie Scali adjusted her tactics in the second half to a more offensive minded scheme. This tactic worked Scali's favor as Flowery Branch's shots increased from 16 in the first half, to 24 shots in the second half.

Flowery Branch was led by junior forward Cassidy Elrod, who seemed to launch countless shots at Dunwoody junior goalkeeper Megan Grove. However, Grove was a force to be reckoned with in the net and recorded 24 saves. But the Lady Falcons finally broke through behind two late goals from Cassidy Elrod to clinch the victory.

This was the second consecutive season in which Dunwoody’s girls clinched a playoff berth. Tuesday’s playoff loss snaps a three-game winning streak and the Lady Wildcats finish the season at 11-6. While the first-round exit is disappointing, 16 players from this year's team will return to the field next spring with hopes of making a deep playoff run in 2012.