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Region 1 Soccer Tournaments Begin Friday in Effingham
South Effingham Socceer
South Effingham players celebrate a goal during recent action as the Mustangs enter the Region 1-5A tournament on a hot streak, winning six of their last seven matches — all by shutout — ahead of Friday’s first-round game against Evans. (Mark Lastinger / Effingham Herald)

GUYTON, Ga. – The Class 5A, Region 1 girls and boys soccer tournaments begin Friday.

South Effingham’s girls (8-5) will host Evans (6-9) at 5 p.m. at the Corral, followed by the Mustang boys (7-5) facing Lakeside (3-9) at 7 p.m.

Both Effingham County teams will be on the road against Glynn Academy. The Rebel girls (4-6) will meet the Red Terrors (8-6) at 5 p.m., with the boys (4-7) playing Glynn (10-3) at 7 p.m.

The winners of the first-round games advance to the semifinals March 31 and earn a berth in the Class 5A state soccer championships.

South girls surge

South Effingham’s girls, who have their most wins in a season since 2022, enter the playoffs on a roll after beating Glynn 0-0 (3-2 in penalty kicks). It marked their first win over the Red Terrors since MaxPreps began tracking records in 2016, snapping a 13-game losing streak.

Senior goalkeeper Taylor Baier was outstanding Tuesday, recording two saves in the shootout. Another Glynn attempt missed wide, while the Mustangs converted three of four penalty kicks.

South, under first-year coach Cora McCaffrey, has won six of its last seven matches — all six victories coming by shutout. Earlier this season, however, Evans edged the Mustangs 2-1 in a non-subregion matchup.

Rebels tested

Effingham County’s girls (4-6) are 2-2 in their last four matches, with losses coming against fourth-ranked Greenbrier and Lakeside.

The Rebels were the only area team to advance to the state tournament last season.

Boys outlook

In boys play, South Effingham was beaten soundly by Glynn in its last outing but owns a 2-1 victory over Lakeside earlier this season.

Lakeside’s 3-9 record is deceiving. The Panthers have lost four matches in shootouts and dropped three others by one goal. Lakeside snapped a seven-game skid with a 1-0 overtime win against Effingham County on Tuesday.

Effingham County’s boys have already exceeded last season’s three-win total. They also notched a subregion victory after going winless in subregion play last year and defeated South Effingham for the first time since 2017.

The Rebels have not beaten Glynn since 2017 — a 14-game losing streak — but have been a tough out this season, with no losses by more than two goals.