Augusta Prep scored two second half-goals, despite an amazing performance from Bulloch Academy keeper Mark Olsson, to take a 2-0 victory over the Gators in GISA Region 2-AAA action Tuesday.
The squads battled to a 0-0 draw in the first 40 minutes. Neither team could manage many shots on goal. Bulloch’s best opportunity came when senior Haze Smith ripped a crossing shot in front of AP keeper A.J. Hagist in the 22nd minute but it banged off the post.
Early in the second half, the visiting Cavaliers amped up their play but so did the Gator defense.
Olsson had several aggressive saves, even coming out of the box to challenge the offense as he wrapped the ball up or knocked it away up. Seniors Will Johnson and Gordon Beasley, as well as junior Bill Nguyen, did a good job on defense as well as they helped Olsson repel the repeated charges of the Cavaliers.
Augusta Prep broke the ice in the 51st minute when freshman Kevin Huggins pounded a shot into the top third of the net, up and out of Olsson’s reach.
Two minutes later, the Gators had a chance to tie the score at 1-1.
Freshman J.P. Padilla had a straight on direct kick from approximately 30 yards out. He pounded the ball, which headed toward the top middle of the net. But Hagist leapt high and got a hand on the ball, pushing it over the crossbar.
Huggins struck again in the 65th minute when a crossing shot from the left side banged into the back of the net for a 2-0 lead.
Four minutes later, senior John Harden had a direct kick from the left. He punched the ball through the four-man AP wall and the ball sliced toward just inside the right post. But Hagist dove at the last second to push the ball away.
In the final five minutes, Bulloch attacked the AP goal relentlessly but the Gators couldn’t get the ball in the net.
Bulloch (3-6) travels to Augusta Thursday to battle Westminster.
Augusta Prep 9, Bulloch 1
Junior striker Jamie Alexander scored five goals and eighth grader Scottie Wells added two as the Lady Cavaliers blanked Bulloch in the first game of the doubleheader.
The Lady Gators (1-6-1) drew first blood.
Junior Haley Burke pounded a shot from the left side of the net in the fifth minute. AP keeper Morgan Robertson went up for the ball but lost it on her way down. When the ball bounced on the ground, eighth grader Ashley Burke, Haley’s younger sister, was there to punch it in and make sure in crossed the line.
That was about all the offense that Bulloch could muster against a much more physical and talented Lady Cavalier squad.
Augusta Prep scored three unanswered goals during the remainder of the half to take a 3-1 lead at intermission. But the AP girls showed no mercy in the second half, knocking in six goals to bring the score to its final.
The Lady Gators travel to Augusta Thursday to battle the Lady Wildcats.
