| Gwinnett Daily Post: by Will Hammock. | |||
| SCHEDULES Soccerinfo Varsity Schedule Junior Varsity Teams/Players Coaches Region Rankings State Rankings: Boys 7th in state. Saves |
The vicious gauntlet of Region 8-AAAAA has claimed another victim. This time it’s the Collins Hill boys soccer team. In a region loaded with talent, the Eagles are the odd team out. Much like other 8-AAAAA sports, some of the state’s best teams get squeezed out of a state playoff berth because one of Georgia’s top regions only gets four postseason spots. Is Collins Hill one of the state’s best soccer teams? Absolutely. Could the team advance deep into the state playoffs? Certainly. Is the Eagles’ season over after next Tuesday’s match with Heritage? You bet. Their year is ending because of a competitive boys soccer region, one you could see developing early in the season. With five teams (Parkview, Shiloh, Brookwood, Duluth and Collins Hill) in the state rankings, it became clear that one deserving team would be turning in its uniforms when state playoff time rolled around. A potential region champion in most Class AAAAA regions, Collins Hill is fifth in 8-AAAAA. And fifth doesn’t cut it, even if you have one of the state’s top teams. The Eagles proved their merit Tuesday night, knocking off Parkview for the first time in school history. A win over the state’s top-ranked team — and one that is ranked first nationally — certainly is a major statement. It just wasn’t quite enough to make the postseason. The statement win is hardly Collins Hill’s only evidence it is a state-tournament level team. The squad also defeated second-ranked Shiloh, becoming the only team to beat both of the state’s top two teams. Two of the state’s top teams from outside Gwinnett, eighth-ranked Pope and ninth-ranked Roswell, have lost to Collins Hill. Don’t let an 11-6 record fool you. Collins Hill is good. Just ask Parkview. Of the Eagles’ six losses, two have come to region rival and sixth-ranked Duluth. Two other setbacks came vs. No. 3 Centennial and No. 4 Brookwood. But don’t feel too bad for Collins Hill. Its players made sure the season will be remembered Tuesday night with the school’s first-ever win over Parkview. The team, particularly the seniors, also can take pride in laying the groundwork for the program’s future. Even if a win like Tuesday’s over Parkview doesn’t get you into the playoffs, it’s a good springboard for the future of coach Stan Carpenter’s program. “Hopefully people will recognize us now,” said Collins Hill senior Samir Talbi, who scored the game-winner in the 2-1 win over Parkview. That recognition certainly will come after Tuesday’s milestone win. It just won’t come with a spot in the playoffs. Will Hammock can be reached via e-mail at will.hammock@gwinnettdailypost.com. His column appears on Thursdays.
|