SCHSL crowns four champions in girls soccer

Columbia – The South Carolina High School League held its 2024 state championships for girls soccer on May 10-11 at Memorial Stadium in Columbia.

Three of the four champions were repeat winners from 2023 with Clover being the new kid on the block in Class AAAA. In Class AA, Oceanside Collegiate won their fourth consecutive state title, claiming two in Class AAA in 2021 and 2022 before going back-to-back in AA.

Class AAAAA – Clover 2, Chapin 1

Clover built an early 2-0 lead and held off Chapin’s late push to win, 2-1. The championship was the first in school history Clover and avenged an earlier season loss to the Lower State champion.

Clover finishes its season with a 20-4 record while Chapin finishes 24-3-2.

Clover’s top player, senior Marilia Nieves, used her speed to break free early in the contest, drawing a foul in the box to set up a penalty kick. Nieves drilled the kick for a 1-0 lead just two minutes into the game.

“We kept up the pressure. The start gave us a lot of confidence,” Nieves said. “We were tired at the end. All of us doing hard work, running, running, running. I think our speed up top definitely helped us a lot. It was a great year. We accomplished everything we wanted to accomplish.”

Clover made it 2-0 in the 14^th minute on a goal from Olivia Maurer. Chapin gained some life on a goal from Darcy Ahern in the 26^th minute, sending the teams into halftime at 2-1.

Chapin increased the offensive pressure in the second half but Clover was up to the challenge defensively.

“I was holding my breath for the last two minutes,” Clover coach Kelsey Black said. “It’s amazing, absolutely amazing. We wanted to come out with some energy. We knew Chapin would come out and play hard in the second half. We had some other opportunities, probably could have sealed the deal. It was a battle to the end.”

Chapin coach Chad Bridges could not fault his team. Chapin was in the finals for the first time since 2016.

“This group is resilient, very tough,” the coach said. “We had an excellent season. To be 24-3 is nothing to be ashamed of. We will be upset with how it ended but it’s okay to feel a little hurt. We will be fine.”

Class AAAA - Eastside 2, Lucy Beckham 1 (Sudden death golden goal)

Eastside repeated as state champion with a golden goal early in the first five minute sudden death overtime period to win 2-1.

The winning score sort of happened out of nowhere as Eastside’s Peyton Nutzman lofted a high arcing shot from about 30 yards out. The ball carried over the head of the keeper and into the goal.

“I really didn’t see the ball go in,” Nutzman said. “It was like a blur. I didn’t expect it to. This means the world to us. We wanted another one. We worked so hard to win it again.”

After a scoreless first half, Eastside took the 1-0 lead with a goal two minutes into the second half on a goal from Kennedy Craig. Lucy Beckham’s Lilliana Iacofano knotted the score with a goal in the 57^th minute.

A physical game that had numerous yellow card violations, each team had scoring chances in the two 10-minute overtime sessions before sudden death.

“Both teams played hard, really wanted to win,” Eastside coach David Craig said. “We came out in second half and I said we needed a goal. Wasn’t expecting it that quickly but that was good. Lit a little fire under them. Settled down and played.”

Lucy Beckham was playing in their first state championship in only their fourth year as a program.

“It was an even match, could have gone either way,” coach Frank Torcasio said. “It’s tough to lose. We won’t dwell on the ‘what-ifs’. I want them to think about all of their accomplishments and be proud. This team will be talked about for many years to come.”

Class AAA – Waccamaw 2, Powdersville 0

Waccamaw’s Lindsey Latimer scored two second-half goals to send the Warriors to their second straight title in Class AAA.

After a scoreless first half, Latimer put Waccamaw on the board with a goal in the 45^th minute of play. That 1-0 lead was enough as Waccamaw played shut down defense the entire contest.

Latimer, however, put icing on the cake with a second goal coming in the 66^th minute.

“We just kept connecting passes, working to get something,” Latimer said. “It was really everyone working together. We just talked at halftime about fixing our bad passes. It got a little shaky in the last 10 minutes but our back did a great job.”

The championship game started three hours later than scheduled due a weather delay earlier in the day. Waccamaw coach Mark Sanchez felt his team handled the delay well and were ready to play.

“I just told them to be happy kids, just relax,” the coach said. “I told them to have fun and enjoy being here. They came out focused and ready to play. The girls are phenomenal.”

Waccamaw finished this season with six losses but Sanchez scheduled tough during the regular season, playing high caliber teams like Wando, Oceanside Collegiate and Pinewood Prep. The schedule helped his team grow.

“Last year was our dream season, 23-1,” he said. “People wrote us off this year. They look at our record but we play a very tough schedule. We lose some but we learn from our mistakes.

“We lost three girls to season ending injuries in March. We had three subs on the bench. Resiliency is the word. Really happy for these kids.”

Powdersville coach Colin Melton said his team gave a great effort and did not blame the long delay for the loss.

“Our girls were ready for this game. It is what it is. We were ready and prepared. We just fell a little short today,” he said. “We felt we were in it, even down two goals. We made an effort. We kept pushing. I am proud of the girls tonight.”

Oceanside Collegiate 3, Christ Church 0

Oceanside Collegiate finished 18-1-2 this season while winning a fourth straight title. The Landshark scored three times in the second half. Coach Mark Meyer credits his large senior class and spoke of the accomplishment.

“I can’t imagine going through four years of high school with four state championships,” Meyer said. “These (10) seniors, they are more than great soccer players. They are going to be great leaders for our society.”

The Landsharks allowed seven goals all season and recorded their 14^th shutout of the season. The championship game whitewash was their fifth of the postseason.

Anchoring the defense were senior Julia Cosgrove, junior Emma Gesser, and sophomore Izzy Pessilio, along with all-state keeper Ainsley Chunn.

“We made a change at halftime and it worked out for us,” Meyer said. “Our defense, they are lockdown players. You get a two goal lead, you feel pretty good with those girls.”

The changes offensively produced three second-half goals. Sophomore Ella Petry scored first, in the 55^th minute. Sophomore Kate Schmidler followed with a score about 10 minutes later, and senior Ella Stief closed out the scoring in the 74^th minute.

Chunn, the starting keeper for Oceanside’s last three title teams, heads off to College of Charleston to extend her career in the Fall.

      “We’re so close as a team and that shows on the field,” Chunn said. “Our chemistry is really strong. We’re not afraid to tell each other when we do something wrong. We put in so much hard work.”