STAFF REPORT
The soccer teams in Bartow County did their best to make up for lost time this spring, as three of them managed to reach the state playoffs in the first year since COVID-19 abruptly halted the 2020 season.
All three of the postseason qualifiers hailed from Region 7-AAAAA, where Cartersville, Cass and Woodland earned the Nos. 2-4 seeds, respectively.
Cartersville reached the Class 5A quarterfinals with home wins over Villa Rica and Loganville; Cass rallied to upset Grady in the first round; and Woodland fought valiantly before falling to North Springs in its postseason opener.
In Class 3A, Adairsville had little trouble racking up goals, and the Tigers finally turned it into results — with a pair of victories to close out the season.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Kaleb Speights, Cass senior
On a senior-laden squad, Speights never missed an opportunity to be a positive influence. During the Colonels’ best season in more than a quarter of a century, Speights racked up 28 goals — including four in a signature victory over rival Woodland. The Daily Tribune News Special Teams Player of the Year and future Shorter kicker, Speights registered 17 assists on the season. He scored or assisted on all four of Cass’ playoff goals. Speights kickstarted the come-from-behind win over Grady with a goal before assisting on the tying and winning strikes. He provided the assist on the lone goal in a 5-1 defeat against eventual state runner-up Johnson (Hall). Speights’ powerful right leg and leadership will be sorely missed.
ALL-COUNTY TEAM
Braxton Benham, Cass senior — After helping lead the Colonels boys basketball team to the region regular-season title, Benham turned his attention to helping the soccer program put together its own historic season. The dynamic winger did just that, scoring a dozen goals and dishing out 11 assists.
Jackson Brennan, Cartersville senior — Brennan teamed up with John Robinson to create a formidable duo in the heart of the Cartersville defense. Heading clearances out of the box and game-saving tackles were only part of the job requirement. Brennan also stepped up offensively with a goal and six assists.
Hunter Echols, Woodland sophomore — In what could be a breakthrough campaign for the Wildcats, Echols wound up being the team’s leading scorer, finding the back of the net 18 times. With Echols and fellow selection Chris Sanchez both playing up top, Woodland will bring back a dynamic scoring duo.
Omar Garcia, Cass senior — As a defensive midfielder for an offensive-minded team, Garcia served a vital role. His ability to stifle counterattacks afforded teammates the freedom to push up the pitch. In addition to recording more than 300 tackles, Garcia also chipped in with five goals and 14 assists.
Giovanni Jacobo, Cartersville senior — A transfer from Cedartown, Jacobo acquainted himself quite nicely with the Canes. The forward got off to a hot start to the season, punctuated by a hat trick against Dawson County and goals against Hiram and Woodland. Overall, Jacobo totaled 10 goals and an assist.
Emanuel Lopez, Adairsville senior — Lopez used his powerful left leg to constantly pepper the opposing goalkeeper with shots on target, helping him lead the Tigers in goals and assists. The kicker and punter for the football team, Lopez finished with a dozen goals and four assists out of his midfield position.
Magno Moreno, Cass senior — Arguably the best defender in the Colonels’ loaded region, which included 5A semifinalist Blessed Trinity, Moreno proved to be irreplaceable, with his absence contributing to a pair of Cass losses. Moreno even stepped up offensively for the Colonels, serving as a penalty kick specialist.
Alex Rios, Cartersville junior — One of the returnees from the 2019 all-county team, Rios used his ridiculous speed to torment defenses. His eight goals and five assists don’t illustrate the full impact Rios had on the field. He punctuated the Canes’ second-round win over Loganville with a late breakaway goal.
John Robinson, Cartersville senior — The other half of Cartersville’s strong center back pairing, Robinson proved just as steady as Brennan. Robinson ended up with one goal and four assists — one of which came on Rios’ late dagger in the Sweet 16. Replacing the duo could be the Canes’ toughest test in 2022.
Isai Romero, Cass senior — While his punting earned Romero plaudits in the fall, his goalkeeping ability exceeds even that, and it earned him a chance to play for Dalton State. Playing for a team that stretches the field, Romero was called upon frequently and often was equal to the task, recording 100-plus saves.
Chris Sanchez, Woodland freshman — Sanchez nearly matched Echols goal for goal this season. In the end, Woodland’s younger forward registered 17 goals. With each of the Wildcats’ honorees set to return for at least two more years and the team coming off a state playoff berth, the future’s looking bright.
Joel Zazueta, Cartersville senior — Zazueta put forth a strong case for Player of the Year, in leading the Canes to Elite Eight. The midfield maestro paced Cartersville in goals (17) and assists (9). The first-team all-region selection played his best down the stretch, scoring five goals during the Canes’ playoff run.
HONORABLE MENTION
Daniel Abeja, Cartersville sophomore; Caden Anderson, Cartersville sophomore; William Gonzalez, Adairsville senior; Ricky Le, Cass junior; Kevin Polo, Cass senior; Edgar Rojas, Adairsville senior; and Cooper Varga, Woodland sophomore.
