Lake Oconee Academy’s boys soccer team hosted Echols County on April 29 in the Sweet 16 round of the 2026 GHSA Class A Division II playoffs, and it took every last second to decide it.
The Titans escaped with a 1-0 victory and will now travel to Metter High School for an Elite Eight matchup on May 5.
What unfolded last Wednesday night was a tense, physical defensive duel, with neither side able to break through for nearly the entire match. The scoreboard remained untouched deep into the final minute, as both teams battled through exhaustion and pressure in a true postseason standoff.
Then, with just six seconds left on the clock, everything changed.
The Titans delivered a dramatic finishing blow as sophomore Poli Medrano rose above the defense and headed in the game-winning goal in the dying moments of the match. The instant the ball hit the net, the Titans erupted, storming the field in celebration as the realization set in—they had just punched their ticket to the Elite Eight in stunning fashion.
“The game was good. We didn’t play our best, but it felt really good to make that goal,” Medrano said. “[When attempting the goal,] I was just making sure the ball was on target and that I was doing the best I could.”
After a scoreless first half and a tightly contested second, Medrano said the team’s urgency finally reached another level when it mattered most.
“During the second half, we just tried to be more intense and play well, because you never know what might happen,” Medrano said. “[Hopefully next round] we can finish the game a little better.”
LOA head soccer coach Tyler Mayer said the match wasn’t pretty, but it was exactly the kind of win that championship teams find a way to earn.
“It’s not how we drew it up, but at the end of the day, when you get to this tournament, you just have to win by one,” Mayer said. “It took 79 minutes to do it, but it was exciting. We’re resilient, and I’m proud of the boys.”
Mayer emphasized his team’s mentality of controlling what they can, crediting both the players on the field and the energy from the bench for keeping the Titans alive until the final moment.
“One thing I coach the boys on is to control what we can control. That’s really what we do going into each training session and these matches,” Mayer said. “You have to know the competition a bit, but really put the right pieces in place. We have a lot of bench support, and everybody’s got a chance to be a star. So this time, it was Poli, and that was awesome for him.”
As the Titans continue their postseason run, Mayer said the team’s identity has evolved since the regular season, especially with a “next man up” mentality following the loss of a key player for the remainder of the year.
“I don’t know that we’ve had the same starting lineup in any game this year, but that’s just how it’s going to look for the rest of it,” Mayer said. “We’re capable, we’re interchangeable, and if luck is what it is, I’ll take luck all day.”
Looking ahead, Mayer said the focus will quickly shift to preparation, film, and fundamentals as the Titans chase another playoff win.
“We’ll watch some film, but at the end of the day, we’re still going to focus on conditioning and getting back to the basics,” Mayer said. “The basics always push you through. With playoffs, you’ve got to go on a one-game win streak, and right now, that’s where we’re at.”