Lake Oconee Academy’s girls soccer team defeated Brooks County 4-0 on Apr. 28 in the Sweet 16 round of the 2026 GHSA Class A Division II state playoffs.
With the win, the Titans advance to the Elite Eight, where they will travel to face Screven County on May 4.
LOA entered the playoff bracket as the No. 1 seed, claiming a 9-0 home victory over Furlow Charter.
Following the shutout victory over Brooks County, LOA head coach Carina Baxley said that she is excited for her players to have another opportunity to advance through the postseason. She pointed to the team’s overall cohesion as a key factor for both of their recent playoff wins.
“I’m just proud of our girls’ connectivity, their composure, and how they work as a team,” Baxley said. “I think that the intensity picks up for any team as you go through the playoffs, and so I believe the excitement and the readiness to move on to the next level are there.”
Baxley credits the game to a more team effort and believes that efficient communication on both sides of the ball played a central role in the victory.
“I would definitely say it was a team effort, and that it was at its best today, and we had all 11 girls play on the field at one time,” Baxley said. “I’m really proud of their communication between the offense and defense, and their ability to push forward together as a unit rather than as individual pieces.”
Lake Oconee Academy built its lead steadily across both halves, with sophomore Grace Kalmanowicz opening the scoring in the first half, followed by a goal from junior Mackenzie King. The Titans extended their advantage in the second half, with junior Janey Soto finding the net before junior Evelyn Van Mol added the final goal to complete the 4-0 result.
“Our team does a really good job of reading the game in the first half so they can respond with the energy they need in the second half,” Baxley said.
The result reflected a full team effort, with contributions across the lineup. Baxley acknowledged that they also relied on leadership from key players throughout the match.
“Our leadership is always fantastic from the middle,” Baxley said. “I’m super proud of Evelyn Van Mol—she’s a junior captain, along with our keeper in the back, who even without a lot of action, was still a key part of our leadership.”
Baxley said that, in preparation for the second-round game, she emphasized to her players the importance of staying consistent.
“I tell them to practice as they play with 100% intensity all the time,” Baxley said. “We also need to make sure that we’re all holding each other accountable.”
With their upcoming playoff game on the road, Baxley is confident that her players have what it takes to deliver a strong third-round performance. She said that the “energy and effort” they brought into their first two games is crucial for a successful third round and beyond.
“I think if we can continue that attitude, [and hopefully get] through the next few rounds, that we’ll find ourselves where we want to be,” Baxley said. “Our girls travel well, and so we’re excited to get out there kind of and bring the Titan energy out there with our fans as well.”