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DeKalb County’s Dunwoody High Wildcats built a 3-0 first half lead and held off the Glynn Academy Terrors’ second half rally, claiming a 3-2 win at the Class 5A Boys’ Soccer State Championships at Cobb Stadium.
Dunwoody (10-7) led 75 minutes of the match with Lucas Federico scoring in the first five minutes of the game on an assist by Yates Parker at Glynn Academy (15-5) to give the Wildcats the early 1-0 lead.
The lead went to 2-0 as Federico had the assist on a corner by Xavier James to put the Wildcats in command in the first half.
Yates put the ball in the net on an assist by Van Hastie to send Dunwoody to the half up 3-0.
The Terrors came out in the second half pushing hard up the field against Dunwoody. Glynn won on a penalty kick to get on the scoreboard. Glynn then pulled within 3-2 with 20 minutes remaining on the second half clock.
Dunwoody got a key play from right-back Jackson Bacon as he contained a threat from a Terrors striker late in the game to help preserve the victory.
The Wildcats returned to the state playoffs this year after a two-year absence was bittersweet after a loss to Lakeside kept them from playing at home and now, they have won two road games to advance to the third round for the first time in program history. Dunwoody’s last playoff appearance in 2023 ended in a second round 3-1 loss to Glynn Academy.
Dunwoody goes on the road to No. 10 ranked River Ridge (12-6) who knocked off No. 4 McIntosh 2-1 in overtime on Wednesday night. The teams are scheduled to play on Tuesday, May 5.
CLASS 3A BOYS
Marry Persons 3, Stone Mountain 1
Despite being a man down for just over 65 minutes, the Stone Mountain Pirates played valiantly in a 3-1 loss to No. 8 ranked Mary Persons at Cobb Stadium on Wednesday night.
The Pirates (9-7) fell behind 1-0 as Mary Persons striker Jefferson Robeleto got loose behind the defense and scored with 33:10 to play.
With 25:50 remaining in the first half, a red card was served to a Pirate defender and Stone Mountain played the rest of the game with just 10 players on the field.
Stone Mountain managed to keep some pressure on the Bulldogs (19-1) getting 11 shots off only to have the Bulldog keeper Kellen Ruzzo make all 11 saves along the way.
The Pirate defense kept turning away the Bulldogs until a ball bounced around just to the right of the goal. Mary Persons’ Thomas Kime got a deflection off a kick by Robeleto and snuck it just inside the right post to make it 2-0 with 1:26 reaming in the half.
Stone Mountain’s Bibe Lunangela had five saves in the first half and a pair of defensive breakdowns put him in a pair of tough situations.
Another tough break for Lunangela came with 32:45 to play when a free kick by the Bulldogs hit the top right corner of the goal and glanced into the net to make it 3-0.
The Pirates continued to play hard with Lunangela putting up six more saves in the second half.
Stone Mountain got a glimmer of hope with 12:29 to play when Victor Maheshe hit a long blast just under the cross bar to cut the lead to 3-1.
The Pirates continued to press despite being a man down just missing a couple of opportunities to score.
DCSD SOCCER STATE PLAYOFFS RESULTS
Wednesday, April 29
CLASS 3A BOYS
COBB STADIUM
Mary Persons (19-1) 3, Stone Mountain (9-7) 1
CLASS 5A BOYS
Dunwoody (10-7) 3, Glynn Academy (15-5) 2
DCSD SOCCER STATE PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE
Thursday, April 30
CLASS 4A GIRLS
ADAMS STADIUM
Centennial (5-13) vs. Druid Hills (10-7), 7 p.m.
Friday, May 1
CLASS 4A BOYS
COBB STADIUM
Westminster (6-13) vs. Clarkston (11-1), 6 p.m.
Monday, May 4
CLASS 5A GIRLS
NORTH DEKALB STADIUM
McIntosh (16-3) vs. Chamblee (15-5), TBA
Tuesday, May 5
CLASS 5A BOYS
Dunwoody (10-7) vs. River Ridge (12-6), TBA
Story and photos by Mark Brock, DeKalb County Schools Athletics Specialist
