With an impending move to the GHSA next season, Pinecrest Academy hopes its third-consecutive and final attempt at a GISA state soccer championship will be the charm.

The Paladins dominated The Brookwood School in the state semifinals Wednesday, conceding only one shot on goal in a 3-0 victory on the Pinecrest campus to earn a spot in Saturday’s state title game.

“They set a goal to get back to the state championship and win it,” said Pinecrest coach Chris Kane. “They were determined today and played with a lot of heart.”

Pinecrest wasted no time by scoring on its first attack.

In the 4th minute, Nico Sanchez received a pass on the wing and sent a looping cross into the penalty area, where Ricardo Garcia-Rulfo was on hand to nudge the ball across the line from close-range.

The Paladins early control was largely due to solid midfield play, a contrast to their opponents’ long-ball tactics, which failed to make any impact.

“We’d heard that they try and get in behind you and catch you off guard on the counter attack,” said Kane. “We worked on that in training the past couple days and the boys were fantastic today. They kept their composure, knocked it around, and made opportunities for each other.”  

And Ernesto Ochoa was close to doubling the lead in the 17th minute, sending a shot narrowly over the bar from outside the box. Shortly after, Sanchez forced goalkeeper Tyler Stone into a point-blank save as Pinecrest applied constant offensive pressure.

David Reichardt and Garcia-Rulfo also came up empty on scoring chances in the 29th minute, with the Warriors struggling to contain the free-flowing movement.

For all the Paladins’ attacking play, however, the Warriors’ goalkeeper made 11 first half saves and Pinecrest failed to score again until after the break.

“At halftime I told them to settle down a little bit,” said Kane. “I could see us getting antsy, a little tight … I told them to relax, stick to the plan, go to goal and keep being aggressive.”

Within two minutes of the restart, the Paladins had one foot in the final.

Pinecrest won a throw-in deep inside the Warrior territory. Sanchez tossed the ball to a sprinting Ochoa, who found himself alone with the keeper and sent a low effort that bobbled across the line following Stone’s attempted block.

Twenty-one minutes later, Reichardt, who hit the crossbar on an earlier attempt, powered in his 21st goal of the season on a long-distance strike into the bottom corner of the net, putting Pinecrest up 3-0.

The Paladins will face Frederica Academy from St. Simons Island for the state title at 3 p.m. Saturday on Mount De Sales Cavalier Fields in Macon.

“The last two years we’ve come up short,” said Kane. “For our sakes, we’re hoping the third time’s a charm.”