SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. — When the Social Circle Redskins regular season concluded on April 1, it was still unknown whether they would claim this year’s region title. Social Circle was still in a tie for first place with the Lake Oconee Academy Titans. 

However, when Commerce defeated the Titans on April 4, the Redskins were deemed Region 8A-Public champions for the first time in four years. 

Head coach Jim Corasaniti was overjoyed when he found out what his team had accomplished. 

“I was actually at the Commerce/LOA game,” Corasaniti said. “It was amazing and really exciting.” 

Corasaniti stressed how it was a complete team effort by the Redskins all season long to accomplish this feat. However, there were some key contributions made along the way. 

On offense, five Redskins scored 10 or more goals this season. 

Sophomore Jed Stapp led all scorers with 21 goals. Senior Aidan Garner scored 13, sophomore Jordan Leigh had 12 along with junior Stetson Evans who also had 12. Junior Cambyl Johnson was the fifth Redskins to score 10 goals in 2022. 

According to Corasaniti, having five players score double-digit goals in its quest for the region title was like a prophecy fulfilled. 

“I told [the returning players] last year at the banquet, ‘If we have five players score 10 goals, we will win the region,’” Corasaniti said. “And that’s what it takes. It takes the whole team and we have really meshed together.” 

In over 1,300 minutes of game time in the goal, sophomore Jase Peters collected 13 saves and helped preserve seven shutout wins, too. 

All efforts led the Redskins to a 16-2 overall record along with a 13-1 record in Region 8A-Public. Though they only lost two matches in 2022, the Redskins endured some nail biters along the way. 

For instance, in the first region match of the season against Commerce on Feb. 7, Social Circle won in overtime and penalty kicks to down the Tigers 2-1. 

Both Towns County matches were won by Social Circle 4-2 as well as a 7-6 win over George Walton Academy on Feb. 15. 

Then, after losing to Lake Oconee Academy 3-0 on March 5, the Redskins got payback at home on March 23. Trailing 1-0 for the majority of the match, Social Circle scored back-to-back goals in the final 2:17 to come away with the win — a win that initially tied the Redskins for first place.

Corasaniti recognized, though, how beneficial those tough matches could be to the team in preparation for the state playoffs. 

“They’ve figured out that yes we can win, but we have to work hard and we can’t give up,” Corasaniti said. “Because we easily could’ve given up on a couple of games and just take the loss or tie, but we drilled into them to keep pressing all game.” 

Every match wasn’t close, though. 

Of Social Circle’s 13 region victories, seven of them ended in shutouts for the Redskins. They also enjoyed two wins by way of mercy rule, too. 

Now, the Redskins are preparing to put the regular season behind them and focus on the state playoffs beginning next week. 

They enter the playoffs with one goal in mind: win the state title. 

Corasaniti expressed his faith in this year’s team to win it all, but also highlighted the level of difficulty each match will present to be the last team standing when all is said and done. 

“It’s a big hill,” Corasaniti said. “I just pump [the players] up that we can beat anybody. We just have to play smart because they know little mistakes can win or lose a game. We’re going to stay with what we’ve done all year, make a few adjustments and be ready to play.”