SOCCER: Trinity boys slam Gatewood, secure spot in GIAA title game for second-straight season

Trinity had no shortage of goals, or style points, as it walloped Gatewood for a third time of the season in the state semifinals Tuesday night at Cleve Warnock Field. 

But while plenty dominant, the Crusaders’ performance in a 9-0 shutout seemed to be missing a certain playoff edge they hope to regain before a second-straight appearance in the AA title match on Saturday. 

“It’s always good to get back to the state championship game,” Trinity head coach Aaron George said. “But we’ve got a lot to clean up, still.” 

The top-seeded Crusaders (15-0 overall) will play an opponent still to be determined when they take the field at Macon’s Stratford Academy in hopes of capturing the GIAA state crown that just slipped past them a year ago. 

Westminster (of Watkinsville) and Central Fellowship are respective second and third seeds in the bracket that are set to match up in the semis Wednesday night in Watkinsville (just after the Trinity girls also battle WCA’s defending state champion girls in hopes of clinching their own spot in Saturday’s finals). 

Neither team promises to be nearly as simple to take down as the No. 5 Gators were on Tuesday. 

The Crusaders, whose starting and reserve units played comparable minutes on both the front and back lines, gave Gatewood next to no openings over the course of the match. Goalkeeper Gene Hu contributed two saves behind a back line that kept the lead secure the whole way. Up front, hat tricks by Wade Register – in a third-straight match – and Josh Mosley headlined a strong attack. 

Though none of the gaping variety, there were still some holes in need of patching if the Crusaders are to effectively contain either of the strong teams they could face on Saturday, when George will also be looking for a more tightly-strung demeanor from his players at multiple posts on the field. 

“We’re just not real sharp right now,” he said. “We’re creating opportunities, but defense is just kind of flat-footed and unsure on some things… It’s hard when you’re playing an opponent like this, because you know you’re going to win, but you still want execution, you want effort. You want guys to do what they’re coached to do. 

“I just feel like we were kind of present tonight. We weren’t really hungry, weren’t really fired up. We were just here. We did what we had to do. We’re gonna have to find another gear or two for Saturday, for sure, regardless of who the opponent is.” 

Trinity scored its first goal on a shot by Mosley with just more than two minutes elapsed from the early game clock. 

The Crusaders would pour in three more in about a five-minute span to stretch the lead starting with 31 minutes to go in the half as Register found the goal for the first time on a self-assist, of sorts. The sophomore, with several touches high in the box, was able to pop the ball up over the top of Gatewood keeper Parker Hollie before heading it in to make the score 2-0. 

Mosley knocked in a Will George corner kick with 30 minutes remaining to make it 3-0. Register connected on a header in the back of the box off another George corner for his second goal, and the team’s fourth, with 26 left. 

From there, things were in cruise control for Trinity, which despite some free substitutions, still saw plenty more looks on goal that didn’t hit home. 

The 4-0 score held for almost 20 minutes before a couple back-to-back goals toward the end of the first half stretched the lead out to six. 

Register tapped one in off the assist of Lawson Smith to complete his hat trick just above the 8-minute mark. Two minutes later, Ben Polhill smoked a free kick into the top right corner from about 30 yards away for the last score before intermission. 

A first of the second half came in the 48th minute, as Mosley headed in another Smith assist from the right-hand side to make the score 7-0. 

Ben Castro-Poveda took his turn on a free kick, and sniped another one into the top of the net from 30-plus yards with 24 minutes left. 

Two more for the Crusaders would have ended the match shy of full time, but Trinity was only able to convert one more scoring opportunity with seven minutes left on the clock as Hudson Shirley played a great bounce on a long ball in the box that got him by Hollie for a wide-open shot, and the final goal. 

Will George finished the night with three assists. Smith and Register had two each. 

Trinity, in the weekend’s finals, is hopeful for the opportunity to send Coach George out on top as he completes his final season before retiring at school year’s end. 

Tuesday night’s win, marking a final match at Cleve Warnock Field in his 21-year tenure, was followed by a reception with players, family and friends. 

“It’s been a good ride,” George said. “I’ve loved every minute of it. It’s going to be different next year, being in the stands. But it’s time for a change. I’ve had peace about it the whole time. I love these kids, I’m gonna miss this place and miss the opportunity to see them every day.” 

Through the seasons, he’s put in many hours on Cleve Warnock Field both coaching and keeping the patch of grass in top shape for the use of Trinity teams year-round. 

Walking off of it for the final time on a game night Tuesday was bittersweet. 

“There are a lot of great memories,” George said. “The good seasons, the bad seasons, the mediocre seasons. Half my life’s been out here. I’ve loved every minute, and I hope the kids have enjoyed it as much as I did.”