Parkview's Soccer Playoff Run Ends

Walton, which had defeated Berkmar in the second round of the playoffs, knocked off another Lilburn team to book a place in the Class AAAAA final against Collins Hill on Saturday.

The game was much tighter than the 3-0 scoreline suggested.

The first half was very defensive with few shots on goals, hard tackles and plenty of passes in the midfield by both teams.

With 13 minutes left in the first half, Walton opened up the scoring. Ali Elkhalil of Walton dribbled down the right side of the goal line, passed it into the box as Cory Plasker tapped the ball into the back of the net.

Later, Parkview’s Sammy Korgi was unable to connect with a through-ball by Zachary Welch as the goalie barely tipped the pass with his fingertips to deny Korgi a shot.

The half ended with Walton up 1-0.

The Raiders took a defensive stance to keep their lead. With 20 minutes left in the game, Parkview took over possession to try to force a tie. The Raiders kept 10 men within 30 yards of their goal and repelled attack after attack by the Panthers.

With 15 minutes left in the game the Raiders almost widened the gap with a quick counterattack against the run of play. Elkhalil again beat his defender to provide a cross to his brother Jad Elkhalil, whose shot was blocked by Parkview goalkeeper Jack Falle.

Falle had a good performance but was unable to stop the next counterattack with eight minutes left in the game. Ali Elkhalil received a clearance from his defense at midfield and beat Parkview’s Tommy Lehner down the side and put the ball past Falle into the far left netting of the goal.

Walton went up 2-0.

Parkview refused to give in and continued its desperate attack. Seniors Santiago Gubitosi, Pete Charter and CJ Ciarlante controlled the action with their crisp passing. They tried and tried to put a good shot on goal but constantly ran into a wall of white Raider jerseys on every attempt.

Walton’s Holden Fender put in a spectacular free kick with just three minutes left in the game to seal the victory and book a place in the finals. The home stands erupted in jubilation as Fender’s shot curled over the wall and into the top left corner of the goal.

The Parkview players were left gasping for air as they put their entire effort out on the field. Seniors Marcos Lopez and Bryan Ramirez were trying everything to extend their high-school careers one more game. Parkview was unable to break through before the final whistle blew.

“We played extremely well and I don’t think the score of 3-0 was indicative of our play,” Parkview coach Michael Tolmich said. “We put numbers up in the last few minutes and that opened us up to a counter.

“We gave up a tough goal. We knew what they were going to do and we practiced it and worked on it but we let it in. The second goal wasn’t the killer, it was the first goal that we can’t let happen.”

This was Parkview’s furthest run in the playoffs since winning the title in 2005.

“No one expected us to go here. To be one of four left is pretty good. It was our first final-four appearances since 2005. It’s when you taste the next level; that's where the heartbreak is,” said Tolmich.

“It’s sad that our seniors had to go out like this, but it’s also good they got to go out like this [in a final four]. I read a quote this week that we cannot live in the past, that we must create new history. This run gives us something to build on.

“We will bring back a strong team next year. We have a few freshman and sophomores who were playing out there tonight. Our team is very young and when you’re young, you’re prone to mistakes.”

Parkview, the No. 4 seed from Region 8-AAAAA, was the last team from the region standing. The Panthers reached the final four by upsetting two No. 1 seeds in Milton and Tift County, and a third seed in Wheeler.

Although it failed to reach the finals and bring home a state championship, this team will be remembered for a while as an underdog that refused to give up when it got tough.