Class 1A/3A's top-ranked St. James girls defeated No. 7 Tuscaloosa Academy 9-0 on Friday to advance to the Final Four of the AHSAA state playoffs next week in Huntsville.
The Trojans, 15-1-1, won the home quarterfinal with five goals from Katie Brightwell. She also had two assists at St. James.
Brightwell took the lead just minutes into the game off an assist from Natalie Burton.
Burton, Molly Phillips, Mary Grace Hixson and Hope McCain also contributed to the win.
“I'm really proud of how hard these girls competed for each other tonight,” St. James coach Charlie Brightwell said. “They showed their concentration and took advantage of the early chances, scoring three goals in 15 minutes.
“Our defense and midfield really set the tone throughout the game, pressing all over the field and setting us up for the transition to attack, recording our 12th shutout in 17 games this season.”
Hixson had three assists on the night, and McCain and Elliet Barton also each had an assist.
Tuscaloosa Academy finished the season with an 11-6-2 record.
St. James will play St. Luke's in the state semifinals Wednesday.
AHSAA State Soccer Playoffs
Women's quarterfinal pairings
class 7A
McGill Touren Catholic (16-2-4) 2, st pauls 0
Auburn (18-3-1) 2, Dothan (16-5) 1
Hoover (20-4-2) 2, Vestavia Hills (17-6-1) 0
Huntsville (12-6-4) 1, Grissom (13-9-2) 0 (2 OT, 4-1 in shootout)
Class 6A
Quarter finals
Montgomery Academy (13-3-1) 2, Spanish Fort (14-8-1) 0
Briarwood Christian (14-4-3) 3, Northridge (16-8-1) 0
Mountain Brook (13-3-4) 2, Mortimer Jordan (14-6-2) 0
Athens (14-7-4) 3, Heart Cell (13-5-3) 0
Class 5A
Carroll (20-2-2) vs. Gulf Shores (18-5-4); Saturday, 5:30 p.m.
Sylacauga (18-3-0) 2, Marbury (12-5-3) 1
Springville (21-1) 2, Southside (20-7-1) 1
Guntersville (22-3-2) 2, East Limestone (16-5-1) 0
Class 4A
St. Michael (18-2) Four, Orange Beach (15-3-1) 1
Oneonta (10-11-1) Four, Fultondale (6-10-1) 1
Westbrook Christian (18-4-3) vs. Jacksonville (19-3-2); Saturday, 6pm
Westminster Christian (16-2-1) 2, Mars Hill Bible (14-7) 1
Class 1A/3A
St. Luke's Episcopal Church (14-6-2) 2, Houston Academy (14-6) 0
St. James (15-1-1) 9, Tuscaloosa Academy (11-6-2) 0
Donohoe (17-1-1) at Westminster Oak Mountain (9-6); Saturday, 5pm
Madison Academy (8-9-2) 1, Whitesburg Christian (14-6) 0
boys
class 7A
Fairhope (17-3-1) 2, McGill Touren (18-8) 1
Auburn (16-3-3) 2, Dothan (12-8-2) 1
Oak Mountain (27-0-1) 3, Chelsea (20-4-1) 1
Huntsville (14-7-4) 3, Florence (16-3-0) 1
Class 6A
Spanish Fort (11-9-2) 1, Montgomery Academy (13-6-2) 0
Northridge (18-5-2) vs. Pelham (19-5-3); Saturday, 7pm
Homewood (21-2-3) 6, Gardendale (18-4-3) 0
Randolph (16-8-1) vs. Fort Payne (11-12); Saturday, 7pm
Tallassee (20-4-4) Four, Brew Baker Tech (16-8-3) 2
Southside (25-2-1) 3, Douglas (17-7-1) 1
Guntersville (24-3-1) 2, Russellville (16-5-1) 1
Class 4A
Bayside Academy (8-4-2) 2, St. Michael (16-9) 1
Oneonta (15-7-2) 2, Fultondale (13-14-2) 1
Westbrook Christian (14-12-1) 2, White Plains (14-7-1) 0
Mars Hill Bible (14-10) Four, St. John Paul II (14-7-1) 2
Class 1A/3A
St. Luke's (18-7-3) Four, Houston Academy (13-8-1) 0
Tuscaloosa Academy (14-5-2) 3, St. James (14-5-2) 0
Westminster – Oak Mountain (18-4-4) Four, Collinsville (16-6-2) 0
Tanner (18-5-1) 2, Susan Moore (17-4-3) 1