Canes' playoff run ends at Druid Hills

After a scoreless first half at Adams Stadium in Atlanta Saturday night in the Class AAAA state playoff quarterfinals, the Cartersville boys soccer team succumbed to relentless pressure from Druid Hills and ultimately fell to the Red Devils, 4-0.

Druid Hills scored in the opening minute of the second half, then tacked on two more goals in the middle of the second half before adding a late goal in the game’s final five minutes.

Johnathan Cruz's free kick for Cartersville from just outside the 18-yard box was stopped late in the second half. An outstanding save by the Druid Hills keeper preserved the shutout.

The Red Devils (15-6) advance to the state semifinals against Blessed Trinity next Tuesday. Both Druid Hills and Blessed Trinity are region champs so a coin toss will decide the host. Druid Hills won Region 4-AAAA. Blessed Trinity is champion of Region 7-AAAA.

Cartersville, Region 5-AAAA champs, had won six straight games and had not lost in 15 consecutive matches prior to Saturday. The Canes, who had playoff wins over White County and Shaw, finished the year with a 16-2-2 record.