Soccer Playoffs: A Look at Lilburn's Teams in the Tournament

A look at Lilburn’s representatives in the 2011 Georgia High School Association soccer playoffs.

Parkview Panther Girls

Record: 10-8

Conference Record: 7-1 (Region 8-AAAAA second place)

Strengths: Experience in the playoffs. The roster features players who have helped win state championships in 2008 and 2009. Coach Judson Hamby has proven he can take teams far into the tournament.

Weaknesses: Lack of strength and size. Parkview girls were bullied against bigger and stronger teams like Brookwood and Whitewater this season.

First Round Matchup: Northview (third place in Region 6) April 26 at home in the Big Orange Jungle.

Berkmar Patriots Boys

Season Record: 14-2-1

Conference Record: 7-1 (Region 8-AAAAA first place)

Strengths: Very good teamwork led by 13 seniors. Jose Salmeron, Region 8-AAAAA midfielder of the year, sparks the Patriots offensive flow. Every player is good at passing the ball around and they have dangerous strikers in Rene Acosta, Ernesto Cardenas and Martin Lugo. Coach Tracy Crouch was named Region 8-AAAAA coach of the year and has previously won the state championship as coach for Parkview in 2005.

Weaknesses: Players’ inexperience. This is the Patriots’ first playoff appearance in over 20 years. However, they have been victors in playoff-like intensity games this season against Brookwood and Parkview. They did have a misstep in the season finale loss to Dacula, which almost cost them the region championship.

First Round Matchup: West Forsyth (Region 6 fourth place) at Berkmar April 27.

Parkview Panther Boys

Record: 9-9

Conference Record: 4-4. (Region 8-AAAAA fourth place)

Strengths: The seniors anchor the team. Two standout players in the midfield, Santiago Gubitosi and Pete Charter ,control possession for Parkview. Region 8-AAAAA goalkeeper of the year Jack Falle and his defenders Abel Nguyen and Jose Diaz have kept games close for Parkview this year.

Weaknesses: The Panthers have an inability to score against good teams. Most of their goals have come from penalty kicks. They can be inconsistent in their play. They barely lost in penalties to a playoff team in Brookwood one night and in the next game lost to Central Gwinnett.

First Round Matchup: Milton (Region 6-AAAAA champion). Milton beat Centennial 2-1 to win the Region 6 crown. Centennial beat Parkview 2-0 earlier this season. Match at Milton April 27.

Providence Christian Stars Boys

Record: 13-5-0.

Conference Record: 10-2 (Region 4-A second place).

Strengths: Goalkeeper Evan Flowers anchors the team with solid and consistent play; he is a perennial starter for the Olympic Development Program Regional team. Caleb McQuaig is a strong forward that also gets teammates involved. They pulled out an impressive 3-1 victory against Parkview earlier this season.

Weaknesses: Their midfield tends to lose the ball too often. The Stars lost their last game of the season to lose the Region 4-A championship. They may have to face a No. 1 seed in the second round.

First Round Matchup: On May 7 the Stars will face the winner of first-round matchup between Atlanta International and Savannah Country Day on May 4.