ACE girls soccer falls to Model in semifinals for second straight year

When the horn sounded and ended the ACE girls soccer team’s semifinal state tournament game against the Model Blue Devils, about seven Gryphons simultaneously dropped to the turf.

In addition to the tears — many pulled the collars of their royal blue jerseys up over their faces to wipe them away — much of the ACE roster was likely experiencing some déjà vu.

The Gryphons lost to Model 1-0 in the semifinal for the second straight year Thursday night, falling in gut-wrenching fashion after the Blue Devils put on a defensive clinic to once again knock ACE out of the postseason on its home field in Macon.

ACE head coach Robby Jones is normally a very composed man. Things were different after what was his final game as the Gryphons’ head coach. 

Jones, who is set to become ACE’s principal next school year and will give up coaching soccer as a result, first came to the field to console his keeled-over lineup of all-star talent. 

Then he sat on the bench and put his head in his hands, elbows lodged firmly on his knees. 

“I’m not sad or upset about the loss,” Jones said soon after, his poise regained. “For me, it’s the ending of a chapter coaching soccer. It’s been an incredible ride, I’ve made some incredible friends and relationships. That’s what you miss the most.”

Jones has been a steady presence at ACE. He guided the girls team to a state title win in 2019 and the boys team to a championship appearance. As he spoke while players awaited the postgame huddle, his crestfallen team continued to cry.

But in between the sobs — not your average postgame tears but instead deep, heavy sobs from seniors, ones who have been playing together at ACE since sixth grade — there were laughs.

“I think it means that the relationships and bonds are what’s going to last much longer than the result of a game,” Jones said. “I want to sharpen their character. I want them to be challenged in this incredible game we have, and to just become better people, better adults for their community.”

It made the loss even tougher, as the Gryphons were a tight-knit group by all accounts. Throughout the season, they chattered away on the field as they played, communicating well while having fun. They seemed to rally around Jones. Players whooped and cheered for their teammates’ goals even more excitedly than they did their own.

But there were no goal celebrations in Macon on Thursday. Model’s back line somehow managed to get a foot on just about everything the Gryphons put near the net. The staunch defense was matched by ACE for nearly the entire match until the Blue Devils somehow squeaked in a score with about 16 minutes left to take the lead.

“I think we learned today that the important thing is you do whatever it takes to fight as hard as you can. I think they did,” Jones said. “They fought really hard, we just couldn’t quite find a way to score. (Model’s) got a really good team. Congrats to them.”

Jones’ swan song was emblematic of his coaching style. Both teams needed lots of stamina, something Jones preached, as the ball careened its way up and down the field, deflecting off players. It was a physical match as well, though there was only one yellow card, called on Model in the first half when senior Lily Bivins came achingly close to an ACE goal but was taken out from behind by a defender.

The Gryphons were cold-blooded for most of the contest, but things got frantic after the Blue Devils pulled ahead. ACE had chances to equalize in the last 15 minutes — they had several corner kicks, in fact, after having almost none for the rest of the match to that point — but simply could not finish.

Forwards Kate Thomason and Edy Powell routinely received balls in the final third without corner kicks, too, but a Model defender was always there to boot things away.

Thomason is one of the seven seniors ACE will graduate after this season. She’s joined by Bivins, keeper Macy Pierce, Hadassah Antoine, EG Wood, Mia Johnson and Avery Stone.

The Gryphons finished the season 20-2 with the loss. Model improved to 20-2 and advanced to the Class A-Division I championship with the victory.