Lake Oconee Academy girls’ soccer has wrapped up its regular season and now has shifted its focus toward the postseason.
The Lady Titans finished the regular season with a 7-5-2 overall record and a solid 5-1 mark in region play.
“They’ve done a great job, and we’re proud of this group,” Lake Oconee Academy head coach Kourtney Kelley said. “We think they can finish this season and put their mark in LOA’s history books.”
The Lady Titans made a run to the Final Four last season before losing to region foe Towns County.
“We expect to get back there,” Kelley said. “We want a state championship, and we think this group can do it.”
Kelley added she thinks that the historic run to the semifinals last year is something her team can build upon.
“Just having that moment in the back of their head is super valuable,” she said. “We’d never been there before, but I think they realized they could’ve made it and won.”
Kelley added that the older girls in the LOA locker room have done a great job of leading by example this year.
“They really want to win it all,” she said. “So, they’ve been pushing their younger teammates harder all season long.”
Still, while Lake Oconee Academy wants a championship, the team knows it can’t look past the first game.
“You can’t just focus on a championship. You have to focus on it all,” Kelley stressed. “Our focus is on that first game in the Sweet 16.”
Kelley pointed out the LOA girls have already exceeded expectations in region play after facing adversity this season.
“We’ve battled so many injuries and sicknesses,” she said. “We haven’t played with a full roster yet in any game.”
Lincoln County represented the Lady Titans’ only loss in region play this season, and their first playoff game will provide the chance for payback. Lincoln defeated Montgomery County earlier this week while the Lady Titans had a bye, so now the two schools will meet next week for a second time.
“That will be a chance for us to redeem ourselves and show them what we’re capable of,” Kelley said.
LOA outshot Lincoln County 30-2 in the regular season but couldn’t get one to hit the back of the net. Kelly said her team knows it has to be more prepared this time out.
“I think for us, it just starts at practice, working on our offense, and finishing,” she said. “We’ve got to make our shots.”
Lake Oconee Academy and Lincoln County will square off in the second round of playoffs on April 23 at 5 p.m. in Greensboro.