First Presbyterian Christian Academy’s boys’ soccer team is in the final four. The Highlander boys beat Lafayette Christian School, 7-1, on Thursday in LaGrange to advance to the next round of the state tournament.
Highlander coach Tom Sukaratana said his team was up 3-0 by halftime. In the second half of play, when the score was 6-0, he was able to rest most of his starters and give everyone on the roster a chance to get in the game.
Senior Tyler Causer scored four goals and had one assist. Stanford Graham scored two goals and had two assists. Clark Sukaratana scored one goal and had one assist. Tareak Barnes had one assist.
The Highlander boys made 26 shots on goal and allowed only eight.
Causer, Sukaratana, Domonique Kirkley and Ricky Gilliard recently signed soccer scholarships with Point University, which coach Sukaratana said is 12 miles from where they played Lafayette. He said the team stopped at Point University’s campus, where they were welcomed and allowed to use the field to warm up before the playoff game. He added that the boys got a chance to see the soccer field and locker room during the visit.
The coach and his squad didn’t have much time to celebrate the win. After returning to Hinesville with the boys very late Thursday night, Sukaratana then gathered up the girls’ soccer team and drove back up to Macon on Friday. The girls were scheduled to play LaGrange at 2 p.m. Saturday, but results from the game were not available at press time.
The boys will play Monsignor Donovan Catholic High School at 5 p.m. Monday in Athens. If the girls won Saturday, they’ll head to the final four, playing Sherwood at Darton State College in Albany at 6 p.m. Tuesday.