Ashley Ridge will face JL Mann in the South Carolina 5A, Division 1 Boys Soccer Championship match at 6 p.m. Friday, May 23 in Columbia.

After defeating cross-town rival Fort Dorchester 2-1 in the third round May 14, the Swamp Foxes defeated James Island 5-3 in the Lower State Championship match May 17 to advance to the state finals. JL Mann defeated Lexington 2-1 in the Upper State Championship match.

Ashley Ridge, ranked third for the division in the state coaches’ poll, had met fifth-ranked James Island twice before this season and edged out the Trojans in both meetings. However, James Island was coming off a penalty-kick shootout victory over nationally ranked Wando, the division’s top-ranked team.

While Ashley Ridge had a fast start in the final meeting, it had to fend off a fierce James Island rally to claim the program’s second overall Lower State Championship.

“Our first game with them went to PKs,” said Ashley Ridge coach Nate Harris. “The second we scored with five minutes left so it has always been very close with them. Coach Todd Robinson does a great job with them and they are very talented so we knew it was going to be a battle coming in but I had a good feeling about our chances especially considering we have Joshua DeSouza back.”

DeSouza, a junior who missed much of the season due to an injury, returned just in time for the playoffs. During Saturday’s playoff victory, he scored two goals, senior Beckham Harris scored two goals and sophomore Austin Fuller scored a goal to lead the Swamp Foxes past the Trojans. Ashley Ridge improved to 22-3 on the season while James Island fell to 16-7.

Only six minutes into the match, Fuller had a good look at the goal. However, he did have a defender on him so he passed to DeSouza who sent the ball into the net for the opening score.

Thanks in part to multiple saves by Ashley Ridge goal keeper Keith McCune and James Island keeper Jackson Crawford, the 1-0 score held until the second half.

Ashley Ridge goal keeper Keith McCune punches a shot away from the goal May 14 during the Swamp Foxes’ playoff victory over Fort Dorchester.

In the first five minutes of the second half, Ashley Ridge was awarded a free kick. The kick was on mark, allowing Harris to head the ball into the net for his first score.

With just under 18 minutes remaining, James Island junior Owen McCabe sailed a beautiful kick in from outside the box that found the net to put the Trojans on the board. Approximately three minutes later the Trojans took a hard shot that McCune managed to deflect. However, junior Charlie Adams was there for the deflection and quickly sent another shot into the net for a 2-2 tie.

“We weren’t surprised they scored two quick ones,” coach Harris said. “They are a very talented team so they can score anytime and anywhere. The thing I was most grateful for was our response. Other teams would have kind of folded. They had their fans in the game and our kids, some of them freshmen and sophomores, had to come out and steady the ship. To answer two goals like that with three goals unanswered was very impressive.”

Ashley Ridge picked things up in the final 10 minutes, scoring three goals for a 5-2 lead. Senior Bennett Boomershine spotted Fuller in front of the James Island goal and passed to him for a shot that broke the tie. Fuller acted in kind in stoppage time, finding DeSouza in front of the net and passing to him for a goal and a 4-2 Swamp Foxes’ lead. Then Harris lined up for a free kick and instead of making a pass, the expected move, drove in and slipped by a defender to land a shot in the back-right corner of the net for a 5-2 lead.

James Island senior Sahil Jivan hit a penalty kick late in the match for the 5-3 final.

Two days before, Fort Dorchester gave Ashley Ridge a highly competitive match.

“We have put in a lot of hard work this season and we are getting the results we want,” Boomershine said. “A lot was on the line today so there was great energy from both teams. No one wants their season to end, especially the seniors.”

The Swamp Foxes took a first-half led over the Patriots with a goal from junior Aiden Butts. In the second half they took a 2-0 lead with a goal from DeSouza. Harris and sophomore Elijah Dunkerley both had an assist.

Fort Dorchester’s goal from senior Rudy Aguilar cut the lead in half but the Ashley Ridge defense held.

“Keith did a great job in goal,” coach Harris said. “These kids are leaving everything on the field and they train hard so I can’t ask for anything more.”

The state championship match will be played at Columbia’s Memorial Stadium. JL Mann is ranked second for the division and enters the finals with a 24-0 record.

“They are very talented, but I’m very proud of Region 8,” coach Harris said. “Of the Top 4 teams in the Lower State Bracket, three of them were Region 8 teams. The Lower State Championship featured two Region 8 teams so I think we are kind of fighting for respect for our region. There are a lot of very talented teams in the Up State so we are facing a team that is used to strong competition.”