Cavaliers hopeful they can capture state soccer title
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Augusta Prep soccer coach Doug Williamson talks with the Cavaliers about the upcoming state playoffs. The school will play Central Fellowship at home Tuesday in the first round.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
Doug Williamson has been here before.
The Augusta Prep boys soccer coach was in the exact same position a season ago.
The Cavaliers finished second in their region, earning a first-round playoff game at home.
In 2003, Augusta Prep beat First Presbyterian 2-1, but fell in the second round to North Cobb Christian.
"Obviously, I'm hoping for a different result this year," Williamson said. "I think we have a better team. We might have had a few extra great players last year, but these guys are probably a better team."
Prep's record can attest to that.
The Cavaliers won a school-record 14 games before Thursday's regular-season finale with Riverside Military.
A 15th win would tie the school mark for soccer wins, set by the girls' team earlier this year.
Goalkeeper Cole Portney predicted this before the season when he said Prep would contend for a state title.
"I absolutely believe we can still win it all," he said. "Some of the games we've played this year have solidified that we can be a contender."
Not everyone is convinced the team is playing its best.
Goalkeeper John Kenney said the team has been inconsistent.
The Augusta Prep boys soccer team needs only one more win to tie the school-record 15 soccer victories set by the girls' team. Some players think the team has been inconsistent so far this season, but coach Doug Williamson says they should be ready for the playoffs.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
"We are pretty on and off," he said. "Everyone has their days and they seem to rotate. We are still a really good team, but it doesn't seem that we have been able to put together a full game."
Williamson agrees the team has been inconsistent, but says it should be ready for the playoffs.
The Cavaliers will face Central Fellowship, a team they beat convincingly earlier in the season, at home Tuesday.
With an expected win, Prep will square off with No. 1 Stratford in the second round.
"They are good," William-son said, "but I think we can play with them."
Prep has been led offensively by Thomas Knerr, the Georgia Independent Schools Association's second-leading goal scorer. Knerr's 18 goals go with 17 assists, a record that leads GISA.
Chase Prescott and David Knerr also are among GISA's top 10 goal scorers.
"We definitely have the firepower," Kenney said. "We just have to put it all together."