Double Delight: St. Pius Boys, Girls Reach State Soccer Final

is just 80 minutes from a second-straight Class AAA state championship after crushing Allatoona 10-0 with a title-worthy performance Wednesday night at George E. Malloof Stadium.

Only Woodward Academy stands in the way of a sixth crown for the Lady Golden Lions, who scored seven times in a rampant second half.

"We played well, had quality goals and scored a lot of them," said St. Pius coach Sara Geiger. "So, very happy and ready to play Saturday."

The hosts showed good movement and ball distribution throughout but were frustrated in the early exchanges by Allatoona’s organized back line.

However, with the visitors rarely an attacking force, it was only a matter of time until St. Pius’ pressure paid off.

Caroline Wootten claimed the opener, latching on to Kelsey Keown’s threaded through ball before racing 40 yards downfield, rounding the goalie and calmly slotting the ball into the bottom corner.

Allatoona was left a mountain to climb when St. Pius doubled its lead 10 minutes before halftime. Grace May was the creator, sending a cutback into the path of an onrushing Diana Soloaga, who didn’t break stride before applying a well-struck finish.

A dominant first half for the hosts was underlined with another goal, as Kaitlyn Orman struck with a close-range rebound for a 3-0 lead.  

The second half started like the first, with St. Pius in constant attack. Keown grabbed her first goal of the night, turning a Wotten assist past Sarah Craig from close range.

Wotten was on the score sheet again in the 51^st minute, sending a curling shot into the top corner to move St. Pius into an unassailable 5-0 lead. Keown set up Wooten for a third goal moments later.

And the goals continued. Elizabeth Kinsel, Tiffany Rodriguez and Amanda Vocelkaa were all on target, as St. Pius’ lead ballooned to 9-0 before Soloago’s header triggered the mercy rule.  

"The girls are feeling confident, pumped and now we’ve just got to get it done," said Geiger.

St. Pius 3, Southeast Whitfield 1 (Boys)

Two goals in the last 10 minutes sealed an all-St. Pius final, as the boys came from behind to earn a hard-fought 3-1 win over Southeast Whitfield. 

Like the girls, the boys now face Woodward Academy in Saturday’s final.

"We knew it was going to be a hard game for us because they're a physical team," said St. Pius coach David O'Shea. "One thing we knew: if we could get the ball down on the floor and start playing our game, we were going to create chances -- and we did." 

Like the girls, the boys now face Woodward Academy in Saturday’s final.

An evenly matched first half produced few scoring chances; with St. Pius enjoying more possession and the Raiders preferring to sit back and mount counter attacks.

The tactic paid off for the visitors when they opened the scoring in the 10^th minute. Osciel Fabela punished a botched St. Pius clearance to stab home from close range.

In spite of the setback, the more physically imposing Golden Lions continued to control more of the ball and were back on level terms with a 27^th minute penalty kick.

Alex Kowalski was bundled down in the box as he raced through on goal, and Drew Morgan stepped up to convert from the spot. 

The second half remained deadlocked for long stretches with both teams reduced to long-range efforts. St. Pius flirted with danger in the in the 58^th minute, when a swift Southeast corner skimmed the goal line, missing a host of Raiders.

St. Pius then almost went ahead in the 60^th minute when a Tyler Alexander shot was cleared by a defender.

The hosts then slowly began to take control of the midfield and opened up the Raiders defense, which was at fault for St. Pius’ next goal.

A downfield pass should have caused little trouble for Southeast, however, a defender slipped, allowing JD Manzo a clear path to goal. His finish left the goalkeeper with no chance.

Kowalski wrapped up the win five minutes before halftime, receiving up a corner, taking a touch and then firing home.

Having beaten Woodward in the region championship already this season, the coach is confident that his team will again prevail.

"Woodward have some threats in different areas and we'll adjust for that," he said.