For the second straight season, Bulloch Academy travels to Atlanta to face Holy Spirit Prep in the ‘Elite Eight’ of the GISA Class AAA girls’ soccer playoffs.
    The Lady Gators (9-5) were nipped 2-1 by the Lady Cougars last season but BA head coach Matt Meeks believes that this could be his girls’ year.
    “The fact that we played them last year and led the majority of the game is a big confidence boost for us,” said Meeks. “It reminds the girls that we can play with this team. I consider this group of seniors to be some of the best female athletes in the school’s history. Most of them have been in big-game situations or in the spotlight before. I think that confidence and experience will carry over into today’s match.”
    Seniors Ashley Burke, Pate Lomax, Page Spence and Kristin Kingery all played on the school’s back-to-back basketball state championship teams. Cate Williams has signed a scholarship to play soccer with Limestone College. Tatum Blitch has played premier soccer for years. Claire Hiller is a master equestrian while Powell Fennell is cool under pressure as well.
    Holy Spirit features senior star Megan Radosta and an aggressive three-forward attack.
    “Radosta is a very strong midfielder with a powerful left foot,” said Meeks. “She tied the score at 1-1 last year when we made a silly mental mistake to give her a penalty kick. Holy Spirit is well coached and traditionally goes deep into the playoffs.
     “It comes down to if our defense can weather the storm,” continued Meeks. “Holy Spirit plays a style similar to ours so our defenders have seen it. We have one of the best keepers (Spence) and center defender (Lomax) in the state. They will have their work cut out for them. On offense, very few teams can cover one striker well much less two. But it’s tough to cover that third forward. Ashley, Cate, Tatum and Claire rotate up top and will have to keep their composure and finish. We can’t leave missed opportunities out there.”
    The BA head man is betting that his girls’ tradition of success in basketball, track and softball will show up on the soccer field.
    “The school has never had a girls’ soccer team make it to the Final Four,” he said. “I told them that this is an opportunity to put another notch on their belts. The fact that it’s win or go home is truly a motivation factor. Do they want one more game?”