The varsity soccer team at First Presbyterian Christian Academy has set a new record. They are the only second-year team without a senior class representative that has made it to the final four in the Georgia Independent School Association (GISA) state playoffs.
The Highlanders competed in Stockbridge on Saturday against Community Christian Academy and came away with a 1-0 win. It was this victory that earned them a spot in the final four of the GISA soccer state championship. They face their first opponent today at 7:30 p.m. when they take on Frederica Academy in Macon at Stratford Academy.
“This is FPCA’s second year with an active varsity soccer program and to make it to the final four is a huge accomplishment,” coach Tom Sukaratana said. “This is something rarely seen in such a young program, especially when you take into consideration that we have no seniors playing on the team.”
Saturday’s performance against the Community Christian Knights showed the Highlanders have a defense that can hold up against physically bigger teams with established programs. It also showed the younger and small Highlanders’ could score.
The Highlanders and the Knights battled it out defensively ending the half with each team being held scoreless. Ten minutes into the second half, Joey Bell went right through a Knight defender and passed the ball to Arthur Ansley who took a shot at the goal from 15 yards out. The ball went under the goalkeeper’s hands as he dove in an attempt to save the goal.
The Knights turned up the challenge during the second half with several kicks aimed at the upper portion of the goal post. But Highlander Griffin Larkin was there to save every scoring attempt.
“When you consider that Community Christian has an enrollment somewhere around 850 whereas FPCA is at 360, and they have seniors playing while we don’t, it is remarkable and a tribute to our team’s effort and performance,” Sukaratana said.
FPCA varsity roster
Terrence Alston
Griffin Larkin
Brandon Standard
Austin Buchs
Joshhua Rodgers
Colin Williams
Jose Martinez
Garrett Crissman
William Haas
Patrick Steele
Kristian Eby
Sunny Patel
Logan McCorkle
Jeremy Williams
Michael Brown
Zach James
Joey Bell
Andrew Walden
Kyle Weinerth
Arthur Ansley
Hakeen Golden
Coach: Tom Sukaratana
Statistics: Bernice Eby
and Clark Sukaratana
The Highlanders competed in Stockbridge on Saturday against Community Christian Academy and came away with a 1-0 win. It was this victory that earned them a spot in the final four of the GISA soccer state championship. They face their first opponent today at 7:30 p.m. when they take on Frederica Academy in Macon at Stratford Academy.
“This is FPCA’s second year with an active varsity soccer program and to make it to the final four is a huge accomplishment,” coach Tom Sukaratana said. “This is something rarely seen in such a young program, especially when you take into consideration that we have no seniors playing on the team.”
Saturday’s performance against the Community Christian Knights showed the Highlanders have a defense that can hold up against physically bigger teams with established programs. It also showed the younger and small Highlanders’ could score.
The Highlanders and the Knights battled it out defensively ending the half with each team being held scoreless. Ten minutes into the second half, Joey Bell went right through a Knight defender and passed the ball to Arthur Ansley who took a shot at the goal from 15 yards out. The ball went under the goalkeeper’s hands as he dove in an attempt to save the goal.
The Knights turned up the challenge during the second half with several kicks aimed at the upper portion of the goal post. But Highlander Griffin Larkin was there to save every scoring attempt.
“When you consider that Community Christian has an enrollment somewhere around 850 whereas FPCA is at 360, and they have seniors playing while we don’t, it is remarkable and a tribute to our team’s effort and performance,” Sukaratana said.
FPCA varsity roster
Terrence Alston
Griffin Larkin
Brandon Standard
Austin Buchs
Joshhua Rodgers
Colin Williams
Jose Martinez
Garrett Crissman
William Haas
Patrick Steele
Kristian Eby
Sunny Patel
Logan McCorkle
Jeremy Williams
Michael Brown
Zach James
Joey Bell
Andrew Walden
Kyle Weinerth
Arthur Ansley
Hakeen Golden
Coach: Tom Sukaratana
Statistics: Bernice Eby
and Clark Sukaratana