Securing their second straight win, Covenant Christian Academy's girls varsity soccer team defeated Shilo Hills in the GCAA State Championship...
The Covenant Christian Academy Lady Rams (10-3-1) varsity soccer team won their second straight Georgia Christian Athletic Association State Championship Friday afternoon as the team defeated Shiloh Hills Christian School of Kennesaw. The two teams meet each other two times previously this season with Shiloh Hills winning both matches by two goals each. However, it would be the Lady Rams who came out on top in the GCAA State Championship game.
Covenant’s head coach Johnathan Arnold stated that “the Covenant game plan was to swarm to the ball and play hard aggressive defense to frustrate the opponent and to prevent the opposition from scoring.” That is just what the team was able to accomplish as they were able to keep Shiloh Hills scoreless throughout the entire match. Sophomore midfielder, Cristy Mulko, scored fifteen minutes into the match off a pass from junior Tori Watson. Mulko would score again on a shot from 45 yards out near midfield that cleared the Shiloh goalkeepers reach for Mulko’s second goal of the game.
"Shiloh Hills beat us on our own field 2-0 earlier this season and 3-1 at their place. We wanted to ensure that we did not allow them to score today.” Covenant coach Johnathan Arnold said.
"Our team played hard and attacked Shiloh’s offensive players each time they touched the ball. The energy level of the players and fans helped us stay aggressive throughout the match" stated Arnold.
After the game, Covenant was awarded their second straight GCAA State Championship trophy. When Arnold was asked whether or not Covenant could win a third straight title the answer was a simple “yes.” Mulko received the GCAA state MVP award. Last year’s GCAA MVP award was won by Watson.
Shiloh Hills began to press defensive players forward once Covenant took the 2-0 lead in the 55th minute. However since Covenant won the coin toss and chose to play against the wind in the first half, it gave the Covenant defense the wind to their backs in the second half allowing them to use the wind as another defender to hold off their opponent until the final whistle blew.
Shiloh Hills may have controlled the ball the majority of the game, but it was Covenant who was able to come away with the 2-0 victory by executing their defensive game plan.
Covenant only graduates three players from this year’s team and has several strong players joining the team for next year. The Covenant team is now preparing for their third straight GCAA State Title! Their record the past two seasons has improved to 22-5-1, which ranks as the best record over two consecutive seasons in GCAA history.
