The Lake Oconee Academy girls soccer team recently hosted Johnson County for its first match of the GHSA Class A Division II state playoffs.
The Lady Titans were able to top the Lady Trojans with a final score of 2-0, and head coach Kourtney Kelley acknowledged that the girls have put in a lot of work to get to this point.
“As a coaching staff, we really wanted the program to focus on two things this year: family and soccer fundamentals. We have focused this season on family and caring for each other. We preach to the girls that we are family and we take care of each other in both good and bad times,” Kelley said. “We have also spent countless hours focusing on the basics of soccer. From footwork, dribbling and passing to major strategic planning; everything is just as important. Positive communication, lifting each other up, not allowing any negative talk.
"That’s what this team is all about. They have really bought into lifting each other up and holding each other accountable," she added. "I think that has been the key to this year’s progress.”
The team’s overall effort has led to great things on both ends of the pitch.
In the first half of the Johnson County match, both teams came out pressing, and it was difficult for both offenses to find many chances on goal. The Lady Titans ended the scoring drought by putting one in the back of the net early in the second half.
Lake Oconee Academy would continue to smother Johnson County dribblers, and a counterattack led to the Lady Titans’ second goal later in the match.
Kelley’s starting 11 has a great deal of experience, with six of them being seniors that have been with the program for at least a year already.
She believes their experience and leadership have really helped them down the stretch, and pointed out that two basketball standouts have produced great results for the squad.
“We have a very senior-heavy team this year with six seniors that all start and make impacts throughout the field. It is hard to just choose one. A key defensive player is Jada Williams. Her all-around athletic ability is unmatched against the opponents that we have faced. She understands the defensive game and puts herself in key defensive positions that don’t allow the other teams to score,” Kelley said. “A game changer on our offensive side is Jane Monachello. She brings speed to our offense and is constantly trying to create opportunities for her team to score.”
Lake Oconee Academy now has to prepare to travel up to the state capital where they will have to take on Atlanta Classical Academy.
The Lady Cavaliers went undefeated in area play during the regular season and defeated Lincoln County 4-2 to advance to the next round against the Lady Titans.
Kelley believes that even though they’ll be on the road, the girls will support each other and be ready to play a competitive game by being fundamentally sound on both sides of the ball.
“The players have learned to support each other, encourage each other, and that everyone can make a positive impact on the team. It all starts with attitude,” Kelley said. “We taught them a lot about servant leadership and how important it is to put the team before yourself. As a coach, I have learned to not assume anything and how important the small details are. That’s why we have spent this season focusing on the fundamentals of soccer. Everything is equally important and nothing needs to be overlooked.”
The time and date for this game are still to be determined, but the Lady Titans would move on to the Final Four with a win over the Lady Cavaliers.