Rutland soccer teams make history with playoff victories

Rebecca Morgan remembers at pre-planning for the upcoming school year when she asked George Collins who was going to coach the Rutland girls soccer team after last year’s head coach, Tony Jones, was gone after a promotion.

Collins, who is retiring this year as Rutland’s athletics director and football head coach, looked at her and let her know that he was hoping that she would do it. Morgan, who grew up as a softball player but had been a soccer assistant for two years, was surprised, but she also excited about the opportunity to take over what has been a solid program.

Morgan and assistant coach Sara Elliott, who is also the band director at Rutland, have spread that excitement to the entire program as the Hurricanes upset undefeated Glen Hills last week in the GHSA Class AAA playoffs for the program’s first playoff win. Rutland, with only three seniors, will try for another upset Wednesday when it meets Lumpkin County.

“We took some big losses early, but that was mainly because we were trying to figure out where everyone belonged,” said Morgan, who also teaches social studies at Rutland. “Once we figured that out, we have been a much better soccer team. One of our strengths is that we have a very flexible team, and we are not scared to move people around. I wouldn’t really say it was a surprise to us that we won that first game because we felt like our region was very good.

“But I guess you can say we were the underdog and will continue to be the underdog because we are a No. 4 seed from our region.”

Rutland (7-7) led 2-0 at the half against Glen Hills on two goals by Heather Harrod, but Glen Hills tied the score in the second half. That set up yet another Harrod goal with two minutes left to give the Hurricanes the win. Rutland is led by Harrod and her sister Hayley Harrod, who is also the valedictorian this year, along with Megan Williams, Chandler Scott and goalkeeper Elizabeth Hulett.

The Rutland boys team (8-5) also advanced to the second round with an upset of Glen Hills. The Hurricanes face Dawson County on Tuesday.

“Any time you beat a higher seed it is a big thrill, but this team has banned together and worked hard,” head coach Preston Keck said. “I know our kids felt like we could win the game, and Dawson County will obviously be another huge test for us. But we believe in what we are doing and are super excited about Tuesday.”

The Rutland boys are led by senior Michael Harper, who scored all three goals against Glen Hills, as well as Lane McCord, Cesar Bahena, Erick Sanchez and Darius Charleston. The boys advanced to the second round for the first time.

This story was originally published May 2, 2016 at 8:07 PM with the headline "Rutland soccer teams make history with playoff victories."