CULLMAN, Ala. – After Cullman’s boys took a 1-0 shootout victory over Randolph and the girls defeated Decatur 2-1 last night, the stage is set for both teams to host Elite Eight matchups on Saturday night at Cullman High School.
GIRLS ELITE EIGHT: Athens (17-5-2) @ Cullman (19-3), 5 p.m.
Since a 4-0 loss to Homewood on April 7, the Lady Bearcats have outscored opponents 25-2 through their five game winning streak. They find themselves matched up with Athens, an offense equally as hot and averaging over five goals a game in their last five.
On the matchup, girls head coach Luke Hackbarth said: “Athens is a well-coached, talented team that plays with speed, physicality, and constant pressure. We know this matchup will demand our best effort, and our girls understand the importance of capitalizing on our chances when we get them. Our girls are confident, hungry, and fully aware of the focus and grit it will take to play our best soccer on Saturday.”
BOYS ELITE EIGHT: Gadsden City (17-5) @ Cullman (13-3-3), 7:30 p.m.
Cullman’s boys will enter Saturday riding a six-game winning streak (including playoffs), with their last loss coming in late March. The Bearcats’ defense has been a force as of late, shutting out three of their last five opponents going into Saturday night.
Coach Will Drake had this to say on the matchup with Gadsden City: “Gadsden City is a strong program. Coach Corker has her boys playing well, and their area is difficult to win. Every team that makes it to the quarterfinals is good. We’ve studied the way they play, how they want to get their fullbacks forward and attack the wings and drop their striker in to progress, and we feel prepared for that. We’ve seen the places and situations we’re stronger, and we’ll take advantage of those the best we can. We have several guys in great form, playing the best soccer they’ve ever played. The boys know that about themselves. That’s where you want them to be in May. When you have a student section like ours and fans and families as supportive as ours, teams find it hard to come here and win. We live on that energy because we want to give them something to celebrate. We want to fight for them, and everything we do becomes important. Saturday will be an incredible atmosphere.”
