By Chris Megginson
It’s often said to be the best, you have to beat the best.
Clay-Chalkville High School boys’ soccer (15-6) will seek to live out the cliche later this week when it hosts the defending AHSAA Class 6A champion and top-ranked Homewood Patriots (18-2-4) at Cougar Stadium. The game time is still to be determined.
“They’re an absolute powerhouse,” said CCHS Head Coach Bob Adams. “They’ve got the experience advantage, but we know that. My kids are giddy and excited, because they know if they win one game, they get to go to Huntsville, which no one at Clay has done before.”
John Colvin, Emmanuel Mendez, George Vasqeuz
Photo by Cynthia Young Photography
The Cougars are now one win away from their first trip to the AHSAA semifinals after following up its 7-1 round one victory with a 6-1 win over Pinson Valley High School (11-11-2) in the second round of the state tournament Tuesday night, April 30. It is the Cougars’ third win this season over Pinson (11-11-2), which was making its first playoff appearance in five seasons.
“The guys have really bought in,” Adams said. “They’re doing a great job of being unselfish. Pinson is very good about matching up with us. We’re very familiar with them and they’re very familiar with us. The score was not indicative of them. They’re a very good team. They had some injuries that limited their game. Take nothing away from our guys though. We executed our game plan. We had some quality and assists and solid finishes. I couldn’t be happier for them.”
Playing at home for the second-straight playoff game, CCHS took a 2-0 lead in the first half and built a 5-0 lead before Carlos Del Toro netted a PK for Pinson’s only goal with roughly 14 minutes to play. The Indians were playing without leading goal scorer Chris Soto (21 goals), who went down with an injury in the 15th minute.
The Cougars scored three of their six goals on PKs. Kevin Pacheco-Bardales and Denilson Mercado each netted two goals for the Cougars, while Emmanuel Mendez and Luke Horst each scored one.
CCHS’s’ defense limited the Indians’ scoring chances, leaving Angel Ezquerra with two saves and a loose ball collection away from the goal.
Clay-Chalkville advances to the 6A quarterfinals for the second-straight year (losing to Pell City, 2-1, in 2018) and will host Homewood for its third-straight home playoff game as the team on top of the bracket. The winner will meet Randolph or Fort Payne in the Class 6A North Semifinal in Huntsville on May 10.
“If Clay is going to make a run, this is their year,” said Pinson Valley Head Coach Sam Manzella of the Cougars’ playoff draw.
Pinson Valley will also play Homewood as its next opponent, when the Indians open the 2020 season, according to Manzella. The Indians, who won only one game in 2017 and five last year, won 11 games this season in a turnaround year. Manzella said PVHS expects to return eight starters next year.
“I’m confident we’re headed in the right direction,” Manzella said. “We feel we’re already ready to compete at a high level…I’m looking forward to it, and happy about this program. I think Pinson is a place soccer can grow.”
In other area scores, Springville (18-6) defeated Southside-Gadsden (16-2-1) in the Class 4A/5A second round. The Tigers will travel to Oneonta (16-2-1) on Friday night at 7 p.m.
AHSAA State Soccer Playoffs
Second-Round Results
All second-round matches in Class 4A/5A and Class 6A will be played Mon., April 29, or Tues., Apr. 30.
All first-round matches in Class 1A/3A and Class 7A will be played Mon., April 29, or Tues., Apr. 30.
BOYS’ PAIRINGS
CLASS 4A/5A
NORTH SUB-STATE
Oneonta (16-2-1) 4, Crossville (11-7-2) 0
Springville (18-6-0) 2, Southside-Gadsden (16-2-1) 1
St. John Paul II Catholic (15-5-1) 1, East Limestone (13-4-0) 0
West Morgan (17-0-0) 2, Guntersville (14-5-3) 0
SOUTH SUB-STATE
Briarwood Christian (18-1-3) 2, John Carroll Catholic (11-7-2) 1
Sylacauga (16-5-1) 2, Chilton County (10-6-0) 0
Montgomery Academy (23-5) 3, LAMP (15-6-2) 1
Andalusia (13-2-1) 5, UMS-Wright (13-5-0) 1
CLASS 6A
NORTH SUB-STATE
Clay-Chalkville (15-6-0) 6, Pinson Valley (11-11-2) 1
Homewood (18-2-4) 7, McAdory 0
Randolph (14-3-2) 6, Columbia (9-5-0) 0
Fort Payne (15-9-1) 3, Albertville (15-7-2) 0
SOUTH SUB-STATE
Pelham (15-9-1) 1, Chelsea (14-11-0) 0
Benjamin Russell (16-4-2) 3, Stanhope Elmore (15-4-3) 2
Northview (12-8-1) 2. Eufaula (6-4-1) 1
St. Paul’s Episcopal (14-6-2) 3, Baldwin County (12-4-4) 1
CLASS 1A/3A
NORTH SUB-STATE
Whitesburg Christian (11-6-0) 3, Tanner (12-5-2) 2
Collinsville (15-6-0) 6, Mars Hill Bible (8-7-2) 1
Susan Moore (11-3-2) 4, Saks (17-2-1) 3
Altamont (13-6-1) 5, Weaver (13-7-0) 0
SOUTH SUB-STATE
Westminster-Oak Mountain (11-6-0) 8, Saint James (7-10-1) 1
Holy Spirit Catholic (10-5-0) 2, Houston Academy (10-7-2) 1
St. Michael Catholic (13-8-) 2, Prattville Christian (12-2-0) 1
Bayside Academy (15-2-2) 22, Thomasville (7-9-1) 1
CLASS 7A
North Sub-State
Florence (14-3-0) 2, Grissom (17-5-2) 1
Bob Jones (13-9-4) 2, Huntsville (17-8-1) 1
Oak Mountain (16-7-1) 2, Vestavia Hills (15-9-2) 1 (2 OT, shootout)
Hoover (16-4-3) 3, Mountain Brook (15-7-2) 0
South Sub-State
Auburn (15-4-2) 2, Prattville (4-12-1) 1
Enterprise (12-5-4) 6, Smiths Station (7-9-3) 0
McGill-Toolrn Catholic (15-5-4) 3, Baker (9-9-1) 0
Davidson (16-5-2) 2, Murphy (10-7-3) 1
GIRLS’ PAIRINGS
CLASS 4A/5A
NORTH SUB-STATE
Oneonta (10-2-1) 4, Boaz (10-4-1) 2
Southside-Gadsden (18-2-0) 9, Westbrook Christian (12-4-0) 0
St. John Paul II Catholic (11-4-3) 2, Madison Academy (10-6-1) 1
Guntersville (13-6-1) 2, Arab (12-7-1) 0
SOUTH SUB-STATE
John Carroll Catholic (12-3-1) 2, Briarwood Christian (6-10-1) 0
Sylacuga (15-6-0) 3, American Christian (14-3-2) 0
Montgomery Academy (19-3-1) 6, Trinity Presbyterian (12-9-1) 0
Faith Academy (18-5-0) 2, Carroll, Ozark (19-3-0) 1
CLASS 6A
NORTH SUB-STATE
Gardendale (10-5-1) 5, Pell City (10-3-2) 4
Homewood (16-4-5) 10, Shades Valley (10-4-1) 0
Randolph (12-4-1) 2, Buckhorn (11-9-1) 1
Decatur (11-5-2) 5, Albertville (17-9-1) 0
SOUTH SUB-STATE
Chelsea (19-2-1) 2, Northridge (13-4-0) 0
Opelika (12-6-1) 2, Benjamin Russell (12-8-0) 1
Northview (13-3-1) 10, Dothan (6-8-1) 0
St. Paul’s Episcopal (16-3-2) 1, Daphne (13-12-1) 0
CLASS 1A/3A
North Sub-State
Westminster Christian (8-1-0) 4, New Hope (8-3-0) 0
Sylvania (11-4-1) 1, Mars Hill Bible (15-3-0) 0
Donoho (16-1-1) 7, Fultondale (11-3-1) 0
Altamont (11-6-2) 5, Sacred Heart (11-5-0) 1
South Sub-State
Westminster Christian (13-2-1) 7, Providence Christian (7-7-0)
Saint James (15-4-0) 6, Holy Spirit Catholic (4-9-0) 0
Cottage Hill Christian (16-4-0) 1, Prattville Christian (6-4-2) 0
St. Michael Catholic (14-8-1), Bye to second round
CLASS 7A
North Sub-State
Bob Jones (14-4-4) 3, Grissom (13-4-0) 1
James Clemens (9-3-2) 1, Sparkman (17-4-0) 0
Vestavia Hills (19-0-0) 4, Hoover (9-6-3) 1
Oak Mountain (18-2-1) 2, Spain Park (12-6-3) 1
South Sub-State
Auburn (13-6-3) 4, Prattville (10-6-2) 0
Enterprise (15-3-1) 4, Smiths Station (12-10-0) 1
McGill-Toolen Catholic (12-4-2) 10, Mary Montgomery 0
Fairhope (7-10-3) 4, Baker (14-4-2) 0
