Coosa girls’ soccer clinches state playoff spot

Despite playing in a torrential downpour for the final 25 minutes, the Coosa girls’ soccer team held on to beat Pepperell 4-3 Thursday in Lindale, finishing fourth in Region 7-AA and earning a spot in the Class AA state playoffs.

“We have not done this in a long time for this program,” Coosa coach Ben Windom said. “It has been phenomenal. Tonight was competitive all night long. They weren’t playing for a spot, but we both fought hard.”

Coosa’s Emily Martin led the team with a hat trick, including two goals in the first half. Meanwhile, Evelyne Cruz notched one goal and one assist and goalkeeper Alexys Davis made eight saves.

All of Pepperell’s goals came from Ansley Davenport, while Kinsey Pyles grabbed two assists and goalkeeper Brianna Culpepper had eight saves.

Coosa will play Region 5-AA champion Lamar County in the first round of state next week.

In other action: the 3-2 win over Morris Innovative on the road Thursday.

The Area 7-A match was knotted at 2-2 after full time and stayed so through overtime.

Sam Berry scored Darlington’s first goal on an assist from Noah Woford, while Krisztian Sandor scored on an assist from Jack Pearson.

The Tigers (7-7-1, 5-0 7-A) enter the Class A state playoffs as the No. 1 seed and will host a first round match Wednesday.

Some early errors allowed the visitors to put up two runs in the first inning of Game 2, and Darlington couldn’t bounce back. Kolin Rogers had an RBI single for the Tigers in the sixth. Nolan Wilson went all seven innings on the mound, allowing only two hits and striking out six.

Darlington (11-13) completes its series with St. Francis on the road today at 3:30 p.m.