Raptors roll into state final

Class A Boys' Soccer

Academic Magnet is a win away from experiencing the rapture of the school's first state championship.

The Raptors blasted the Governor's School Eagles 4-0 on Tuesday night to win the Class A Lower State championship and advance to the state title game.

The Raptors play the winner of the Christ Church-Southside Christian game at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the University of South Carolina's Stone Stadium. A victory Saturday would crown the No. 1 Raptors' season.

"That would be our first state championship," coach Troy Bennage said after his team improved to 16-2. "We've come close. We finished runner-up in soccer, swimming, track, cross country. We have lots of seconds."

The Raptors won a game that wasn't as close as the score would indicate. They had approximately 30 shots on goal and watched many scoring opportunities go wide left, wide right or high over the crossbar of the goal. But the Raptors managed to get four shots past the Eagles keeper.

"Missing out on all those chances, yes it was a little frustrating," Bennage said. "But the more opportunities we had, the better the chances to break through. They were a patient squad, a well-coached squad with a good keeper. Fortunately, we were able to pepper him with shots."

The Raptors fought through the frustration and finally got on the scoreboard when Alex Herlocker scored in the 17th minute. Travis Farnham scored to make it 2-0, and Herlocker put the match out of reach with his second goal of the night.

Backup goalie Abid Javed scored in stoppage time at the end of regulation to make it 4-0.

The Raptors, who have outscored the opposition 21-0 in three playoff games, are making their first trip to Columbia since 2005 when they lost a 1-0 decision in overtime to Christ Church. It was the Cavaliers' fifth straight state championship.

Bennage expects a big Raptor contingent to make the trip up I-26 Saturday to watch the Raptors.

"We expect some of the players from (the 2005) team to be in the stands," Bennage said.

"If they are in the stands, they will be there in heart, soul and mind. We'll try to carry on what they started."