DeKalb Schools Soccer: Tucker Wins Opening Round

Freshman middle fielder Lucky Teah scored the first two goals of the game to lead the No. 5 ranked Tucker Tigers to a convincing 5-1 Class AAAA soccer playoff victory over the South Paulding Spartans on Tuesday night at Hallford Stadium in Clarkston.

The Tigers put pressure on the Spartan defense from the opening kick as the South Paulding goalie battled by blocking several shots by Tucker to keep the score at 0-0 despite the constant pressure.

Tucker had a goal by Solomon Roberts disallowed for offsides with 23:30 left in the first half as the Tigers had three opportunities to score in a 50 second time span.

The Spartans tested Tucker goalie Steven Duffy only twice in the first half and the score remained 0-0 until Teah slipped a shot into the goal on an assist from Roberts for a 1-0 Tucker lead with just 30 seconds left in the half.

Teah struck again just 1:05 into the second half by taking a pass from Austin Hood to make it 2-0.

Duffy then took on a couple of shots from the Spartans in an 11 second span with 30:35 to play before William Gomez put the ball into the goal with 30:00 left in the game by picking up his own blocked shot in front of the goal to make it 3-0.

Roberts made it 4-0 with 27:38 to play before the Spartans got a breakaway for a goal against Duffy with just 10:50 to play to get on the board at 4-1.

Tucker closed out the scoring as Manthe Nsukami scored with 4:00 to play to make the final of 5-1.

The Tigers (14-4-1) advance to take on Dutchtown (10-4-0) which knocked off Tri-Cities 5-3 in the opening round. The game is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, May 8 at 7:30 at Hallford Stadium.

The No. 8 ranked Lakeside Vikings (13-3-1) picked up a road victory over Alexander (11-5-2) by a score of 3-1 to advance to the second round of the Class AAAA state playoffs. The Vikings, a No. 3 seed out of Region 6-AAAA, advance to face No. 2 ranked McIntosh (16-2-1) which won an easy 10-0 matchup with Riverdale in the first round.

The Stephenson Jaguars (11-5-2) did not fare as well as their DeKalb counterparts as they took a 10-1 loss on the road against No. 10 ranked Tift County (13-1-2) in Class AAAAA action.

State Soccer Playoffs
Tuesday, May 1
Class AAAAA Boys
Tift County (13-1-2) 10, Stephenson (11-5-2) 1

Class AAAA Boys
Tucker (14-4-1) 5, South Paulding (11-6-1) 1
Lakeside (13-3-1) 3, Alexander (11-5-2) 1

All three DeKalb girls' teams are set for Class AAAA play tonight (Wednesday, May 2) along with the Chamblee boys' team in the state soccer playoffs.

The Chamblee Lady Bulldogs (13-2-0) host North Paulding (16-2-0) at 5:30 p.m. at North DeKalb. Chamblee goaltender Jamie Whitacre ranks third in the county at 0.65 goals allowed while senior forward Nicole Ruffin ranks second in goals scored with 30 on the season while senior Lydia Morrow leads the county with 16 assists while connecting 11 goals of her own.

Dunwoody (11-7-0) travels to take on No. 4 ranked Pope (17-1-0) at 5:55 p.m. on Wednesday. The Lady Wildcats are led by junior forward Emily Strahan who has scored 25 goals this season and is tied for third in the county and sophomore Avery Woods is tied for second with 15 assists.

Senior goaltender Megan Grove ranks sixth in the county in goals allowed with 2.39 and sophomore teammate Haley Johnson is right behind at 2.67.

The Lakeside Lady Vikings (12-3-1) travel to Kell (13-4-1) to open a double-header at 6 p.m. with the No. 8 ranked Kell Longhorns (15-3-0) against the Chamblee Bulldogs (12-5-0) following at 8 p.m.

Lakeside has the top two goaltenders in the county in junior Monica Villarreal (0.60 goals allowed) and Ashlee Graham (0.27 goals allowed). Senior Summer Bader leads the Lady Vikings on offense with 12 goals and 13 assists.

The Bulldogs are powered by senior middle fielders Erik Ramirez, 11 goals and a county leading 22 assists on the season, and Devin Pope with 11 goals and 11 assists. Senior goaltender Heyelom Gebree is sitting at the No. 5 spot in the goaltending stats for DeKalb County with a 1.28 goals allowed average.

The final game of the week involves the Druid Hills Red Devils (8-5-2) traveling to take on Columbus (14-4-0) at 6 p.m. on Thursday (May 3) at Columbus State University. Junior John Toulme is third in the county with a .077 goals allowed average in the net for Druid Hills.

Wednesday, May 2
Class AAAA Boys
Chamblee (12-5-0) at Kell (15-3-0), 8 p.m.

Class AAAA Girls
Lakeside (12-3-1) at Kell (13-4-1), 6 p.m.
Dunwoody (11-7-0) at Pope (17-1-0), 5:55 p.m.
North Paulding (16-2-0) at Chamblee (13-2-0), North DeKalb Stadium, 5:30
p.m.

Thursday, May 3
Class AAA Boys
Druid Hills (8-5-2) vs. Columbus (14-4-0), Columbus State, 6 p.m.

SECOND ROUND
Tuesday, May 8 (tentative)
Class AAAA Boys
Dutchtown (10-4-0) at Tucker (14-4-1}, Hallford, 7:30 p.m.
Lakeside (13-3-1) at McIntosh (16-2-1), TBA



Mark Brock is the Statistician/Information Officer/Web Manager for DeKalb County Schools Athletics