Travelers Rest girls soccer falls to Waccamaw 5-1 in the AAA state championship game

Sam Albuquerque, Greenville News
·2 min read

COLUMBIA — After scoring the first goal of the game, Travelers Rest girls soccer lost 5-1 to Waccamaw in the SCHSL Class AAA state championship game on Saturday.

It was Waccamaw's second title in program history. Travelers Rest (15-5) was making its first appearance in the title game.

Waccamaw (23-1) responded quickly and often to Travelers Rest midfielder C.J. Hawkins' quick goal by rattling off four unanswered goals by halftime, before adding one more in the second half.

Here are three takeaways from this goal-filled final:

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Waccamaw was who we thought it was

Waccamaw was as good as advertised. The Warriors controlled every aspect of the game for nearly the entire 80 minutes of play.

It was expected though from a team that scored 32 goals in its five playoff games. A team that beat Class AAAAA champions Wando, Class AA-A champions Oceanside, and countless other top-tier teams over the course of the season. And a team that has a goal differential of +120 in its 24 games.

Waccamaw was the best team in the state this season, regardless of classification, and the Warriors showed it again on Saturday.

Waccamaw High sophomore Halina Gregory (2) congratulates her older sister Waccamaw High senior Corine Gregory (4) near Travelers Rest High's Hannah Barry (13) when she scored during the first half of the 2023 Class AAA girls soccer State championship game at Irmo High School in Columbia, S.C. Saturday, May 13, 2023.
Waccamaw High sophomore Halina Gregory (2) congratulates her older sister Waccamaw High senior Corine Gregory (4) near Travelers Rest High's Hannah Barry (13) when she scored during the first half of the 2023 Class AAA girls soccer State championship game at Irmo High School in Columbia, S.C. Saturday, May 13, 2023.

Travelers Rest wasn't able to slow down Gregory sisters

Travelers Rest knew what Waccamaw senior and 44-goal scorer Corine Gregory and sophomore winger Halina Gregory could do on the field and the Devil Dogs couldn't slow them down.

Corine Gregory buried two goals while Halina Gregory caused havoc, blazing down the wing and dribbling past each defender that Travelers Rest put in her path. The two, along with junior Meaghan Matthews, were directly involved in four of Waccamaw's goals.

Travelers Rest High's CJ Hawkins (11) celebrates the first goal of the game with teammate Travelers Rest High's Addie Hawkins (12) playing Waccamaw High during the first half of the 2023 Class AAA girls soccer State championship game at Irmo High School in Columbia, S.C. Saturday, May 13, 2023.
Travelers Rest High's CJ Hawkins (11) celebrates the first goal of the game with teammate Travelers Rest High's Addie Hawkins (12) playing Waccamaw High during the first half of the 2023 Class AAA girls soccer State championship game at Irmo High School in Columbia, S.C. Saturday, May 13, 2023.

Travelers Rest's early goal kicked Waccamaw into high gear

Though the game started in storybook form for the underdogs, it ended up being the wake-up call the Warriors needed to begin playing the way they were expected to perform.

Waccamaw very quickly turned up the intensity after allowing the first goal and begin attacking in wave after wave to equalize the score. Once Corine Gregory broke through the defense, dribbled past the goalie, and scored the first Warriors' goal, the floodgates opened.

For the next 20-30 minutes, it felt as if every time the Warriors had possession they bagged another goal.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: South Carolina soccer: Travelers Rest falls to Waccamaw in state final

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