Pebblebrook advances to first state title game since 2017

MABLETON — Pebblebrook punched its ticket to the Class AAAAAAA state championship game as it held on to defeat Hillgrove 2-1 on Friday night at Falcon Stadium.

The Falcons (19-2-1) will face Harrison next Friday in an all-Cobb County title matchup at McEachern’s Walter Cantrell Stadium. It is the Falcons first trip back to the championship game since 2017.

The victory was the sixth straight game where Pebblebrook won by a single goal or in overtime.

“There’s no words to describe (this feeling),” Falcons coach Anton Banfield said. “This is awesome, to have the opportunity to go back to the state finals again, it is like lightning flashing.”

Pebblebrook started strong when John Diaz found the back of the net for a 1-0 lead just 3 minutes into the game. Roosvins Josil added to the lead when he scored to go up 2-0 with 12:00 remaining in the first half.

Only 5 minutes later, Hillgrove (14-5-1) got on the scoreboard when Nick Giraldo connected with Quin Delamater off a corner kick to make the score 2-1 at the half.

Hillgrove came out and controlled the game early in the second half. The Hawks got off a number of shots but none were able to find the back of the net.

It looked as if Delamater tied the game for the Hawks with 7 minutes to play off a free kick right outside the 18-yard box, but the ball bounced off the football goal post and ricocheted into the net, to which the ref called it no good.

“We fought hard, we just didn’t take our chances,” Hillgrove coach Heath Merrill said. “I felt like we dominated the game. I don’t think it was a clear domination but I think we possessed the ball, and had more opportunities than they did, they just finished their opportunities better.”

Pebblebrook held Hillgrove the rest of the game to earn its trip to the state finals.

“Part of our success has just been as a team fighting hard until the end,” Banfield said. “Hillgrove did an awesome job fighting back in the end, but we were able to hold on.”