First Presbyterian Christian Academy’s soccer teams both claimed first place in their division in last weekend’s Sherwood Tournament in Albany. The Highlander teams were among the 29 schools competing.

GIRLS
FPCA started its quest for the championship by taking down Central Fellowship, 7-0, in game one.
Mary Kathryn Whitney notched two goals and an assist. Ausert Gibbs scored one goal and had two assists. Brooke Standard, Arianna Burkett, Cecilia Graham and Mercedes Buckley each scored one goal. The Lady ’Landers allowed only two shots on goal while taking 22 shots.
In game two, FPCA topped dominant Region 3-A soccer team Westfield, 5-0
The Lady ’Landers again allowed two shots on goal. Graham scored two goals and two assists. Standard, Buckley and Hannah Burkett each scored a goal. Whitney had an assist.
FPCA recorded its third shutout by downing Calvary, 8-0, in game three. Graham had a standout game, scoring four goals and notching one assist. Hannah Burkett had two goals. Standard and Buckley had one goal and one assist each. Whitney and Summer Mehalko each had one assist.
FPCA had 16 shots on goal to Calvary’s three.
FPCA coach Tom Sukaratana said Standard played unbelievable defense throughout the tournament. The Armstrong Atlantic University commit was credited in FPCA’s three-straight shutout wins in the tournament.
In the championship game, the Lady ’Landers faced their toughest opponent in Mount De Sales. Exceptional defense from both teams kept the score low, but FPCA claimed a 2-1 win. Sukaratana said the opponent’s defense never allowed his girls a shot on goal in the first half.
FPCA allowed two shots on goal.
A penalty kick gave their opponent their lone goal of the game and ended FPCA’s shutout streak. In the second half, Standard headed in the ball off a corner kick from Graham for FPCA’s first goal. Graham later knocked in the other winning goal.

BOYS
In its first game, FPCA downed Region 2-AA rival Trinity Christian, 6-2.
The Highlanders made 21 shots on goal. Tareak Barnes scored three goals. Standford Graham had one goal off a penalty kick.
Domonique Kirkley and Nate Hart each scored one goal, while Tyler Causer and Clark Sukaratana each had one assist.
In the second game, FPCA beat Lafayette, 5-0. The coach said Kirkley, Ricky Gilliard, Hart, Causer and Demetrius Williams all had great defensive games.
Causer scored two goals and two assists. Ausar Gibbs scored two goals and Graham had a goal and an assist. Jack Waters had one assist.
In game three, the Highlanders took down Gatewood Christian, 3-1. Clark Sukaratana, Causer and Graham showed their senior leadership by scoring one goal each. FPCA allowed only three shots on goal while taking 22.
In the championship game, FPCA beat Westfield, 6-2.
“They were a very fast team, but we played well together and we covered for each other,” coach Sukaratana said. “It was a very physical game … they had two penalty kicks on us, which is how they scored. We had an outstanding defensive effort for our team.”
Coach Sukaratana said eighth-grader A.J. Dargan had to mark the No. 2 player in the tournament and did his job well, effectively shutting down the player.
Graham scored a hat trick and had an assist.
Causer and Gilliard each had one goal and one assist.
Kirkley had one goal, and Sukaratana had two assists.
The coach said he had an opportunity to play the entire bench throughout the tournament, giving everyone a chance to gain experience while giving his starters time to rest.
He said the team played well together.
“It was an outstanding tournament for the boys and girls,” coach Sukaratana said. “I would like to thank coach Holly Buckley, coach Ami Whilden and coach Jason Burkett for helping me out during the tournament.”