St. Andrews boys soccer eyes state title after semifinal revenge win

WILMINGTON ISLAND, Ga. —

School may be out for the summer, but the work is not done for St. Andrew's boys soccer.

The Lions are preparing for the GIAA Class 3A Boys Soccer State Championship after punching their ticket to the title match following a dramatic double-overtime semifinal win over Brookwood High School.

The victory also carried a measure of redemption after St. Andrew's fell to Brookwood in last season's Final Four.

Senior goalkeeper Morris Lane said the team leaned on resilience to advance.

“Last year we lost to them in the state semifinals at their place, and it kind of went a similar way,†Lane said. “We scored first, they scored right after, and I got a little nervous. But the team played so well. We weren't tired like the other team. We kind of gritted it out, wanted it more, and got the last goal. That's all that matters.â€

According to St. Andrew's, the Lions are making their first appearance in a boys soccer state championship match since 2010.

Senior center back Charles Strain said excitement around the team is high entering the title game.

“Mood's all high. Everyone's excited,†Strain said. “We made it, and we're about to win it too.â€

St. Andrew's enters the championship with a roster far more experienced than the one that reached the semifinals a season ago. After having just one senior last year, the Lions now lean on a veteran group to lead the way.

Head coach Blake Seal, now in his seventh season and leading the deepest postseason run of his tenure, said the maturity of this year's senior class has been important.

“We only had one senior last year, so again we were relying on that senior to lead everyone else,†Seal said. “This year, they're very receptive. I talk to them in the classroom, when we're in school, and also in the locker room.â€

Standing between St. Andrew's and a state title is Westminster Schools of Augusta as the Lions look to finish off a historic postseason run.

Lane said reaching the final also means something special for Seal.

“It means a lot,†Lane said. “Especially, I feel like we had to do it for Coach Seal. He's never made it to the final, and I think he deserves it. So to be able to do it all year and finally get here, it means a lot.â€

St. Andrew's will face Westminster Schools of Augusta in the GIAA Class 3A state championship Wednesday at 5 p.m. in Macon.