Boys soccer at Westminster School in Augusta has done it again.
Through two overtimes and a duel of penalty kicks, the Wildcats defeated Holy Spirit Prep in Macon on Saturday to clinch the Georgia Independent Athletic Association Class 3A state championship. It was the team's 14th state title since 2000.
This was a game that was two years in the making, so to speak. Holy Spirit won its second straight state title two years ago and was looking for a third until Westminster eliminated the Cougars from the state playoffs last year. Not that Wildcat players needed any extra motivation, but a little bulletin board material was released ahead of this.
“They won it four years ago, they won it three years ago, and when we beat them last year in double overtime, their coach said, 'Our thinking is we're going to win four in a row. We were going to do it, but you got one win from us,'” Westminster coach Shawn Brouwer said. “This was their revenge tour and they released a video titled 'The Trilogy' and it was supposed to be their comeback. The Lord had other things in mind, but we… There is no problem with that.”
Westminster boys soccer wins 'heavyweight' battle to claim state title
Both teams entered as the top two teams in Class 3A, with Holy Spirit Prep being the top seed. Brower knew it would be a marathon, not a sprint.
“That Holy Spirit team was a really great high school team. They had a lot of technical ability and a lot of great players who had played together for years,” he said. “Two heavyweights just trading blows. To be honest, we were kind of hunkering down to weather the storm. We knew that was going to be the case. We prepared the boys for what we had to do. There were some bends, but we just didn't break. From player to player, they did their part and defended.”
Although Westminster is the defending 3A state champion, it's important to remember that this year's team composition looks a little different. If losing the leadership of Creed Barrett and Eli Daniel to graduation wasn't enough, losing current 3A Player of the Year William Jeffords to a French academy would have put this team even further behind. It would be.
Enter senior goalie Henry Campbell.
How this newly selected goaltender has changed things for the Wildcats.
Campbell, a 2023 GIAA All-State selection, has been one of the pillars of the program since Brower arrived two years ago. Not coincidentally, this was also the time when Campbell took over as goalkeeper.
Campbell, who is 6 feet 4 inches tall, had played soccer for years but had never been in front of the net. His parents were understandably worried about changing positions after he sustained a head injury on the soccer field during his junior high school days. However, the result speaks for itself, as it is very likely that all states will agree again.
“When I came in, we didn't have a goalie, so I said to him, 'Hey, you're our goalie.' He said he hadn't played goalie much. “I told him,” Brouwer said. “Over the past two years, the team has won 39 games, lost two and tied three, with 23 of those wins being shutouts. He has conceded 0.56 goals per game.”
The move paid off on Saturday as well. Not only did Campbell convert his 10th penalty kick to put the Wildcats in front, he also blocked his final kick to secure the victory.
Record-breaking season for Westminster women's soccer
The Westminster girls, seeking their first state championship in program history, lost 1-0 to Frederica Academy on Saturday in Macon.
Despite falling short, this was a record-breaking season for the Wildcats. Senior Roenne Saddington broke the single-season scoring record of 47 goals held by 2011 graduate Annie Spese, who played collegiate soccer at the University of Florida. Freshman Joline Romero also matched Spese's assist record with 25 assists.
Of the 94 goals Westminster scored in 2024, 14 different players found the back of the net. Coach Tucker Blackmon said that's what sets the team apart. Their selfless team motto comes from Romans 12:9-10, which says to respect others more than yourself.
“This group of girls is the most special group I've ever coached. It's about them and nothing to do with me,” he said. “They're unique in that they celebrate each other, no matter what it is. As a coach, I'm just sitting in the chair and they're just edifying God in the way they treat each other. If you have a group of girls like that, it's easy.”
