Late header off long inbounds the difference as GMC falls in tight GHSA state boys soccer final

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By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

            Sometimes, a state championship is won by the team that makes one more play, and sometimes a championship is won by a championship play.

            Christian Heritage qualified in both areas.

            The Lions were tied at halftime with GMC Prep in the GHSA Class A/Division II state soccer championship Tuesday night at McEachern High in Powder Springs, the teams seeming destined for more than 80 minutes of soccer.

            Then, innocuously enough, Christian Heritage senior Peter Pridgen booted it toward the goal from the sideline, about the 31-yard line, into traffic.

Four freshman starters, two concussions, a wedding, none was enough to keep GMC from playing for another GHSA boys soccer state title

            It found the head of Marco Arostegui, with two Bulldogs surrounding him and one missing on a deflection try, and then floated into the back of the net for the game-winner in Christian Heritage’s 2-1 victory over the Bulldogs.

            Arostegui’s back was to the goal, and the ball actually bounced off the front half of his noggin, stunned GMC keeper Davis Duke caught flat-footed.

            A 30-yarder from GMC’s Brian Sherwood a little more than a minute later was wide right,  and a free kick two minutes later was defended well.

            GMC was unable to get a good look the rest of the way. Duke came way out to defend Arostegui’s attempted nail in the coffin with three minutes left.

            The Bulldogs took the lead on freshman Tommy Carty’s goal only eight minutes into the action, Arostegui answering about seven minutes later as the Lions started picking up some momentum.

            The final pitted two of the top four teams in the class.

            The teams were 1-2 in A/II in Georgia High School Soccer.com. GMC was No. 1 and Christian Heritage No. 4 in the final regular-season ScoreAtlanta and Atlanta Journal-Constitution polls.

            GMC had a first-round bye, then beat Lincoln County – for the second time this season  - 9-0, Fugees Academy 2-0, and Mt. Zion-Carrollton 3-0. Christian Heritage followed a bye with a 10-0 win over Washington-Wilkes, 5-1 over Lake Oconee Academy, and 3-1 over Atkinson County.