Sports
Raiders Win State Soccer Title
Walton takes down Collins Hill, 2-1, for its sixth GHSA championship in soccer.
Ali Elkhalil’s goal in the 52nd minute broke a 1-1 tie with host Collins Hill and gave the AAAAA state boys soccer championship Saturday night. The title was the sixth for outgoing Raiders coach Bucky Boozer, who is retiring after 26 years at the East Cobb school.
The result was a bit of an upset because the host Eagles were ranked No. 4 nationally by one soccer poll and won the past two AAAAA Georgia High School Association championships. When Collins Hill went up 1-0 in the first half, many thought the Eagles would capture their third consecutive title.
But Elkhalil scored just before the half to tie the game and set the stage for his second-half heroics. Elkhalil’s brother, Jad, assisted on both goals.
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The title is the sixth for Walton, all since 1986, and its third since 2006.