Michael Young - Sports Editor

Katie McKay, at right, gets physical with a Wade Hampton player.

Michael Young - Sports Editor

Barnwell High's keeper, Autumn Baker, registered seven saves during the game against Wade Hampton.

Michael Young - Sports Editor

Masey Mathias hustles downfield during the game against Wade Hampton.

Michael Young - Sports Editor

Senior Katie Rush gets ready for the battle against Wade Hampton.

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With its post-season title hope and aspirations hanging in the balance, the Barnwell High varsity girls soccer electrified the home crowd Wednesday with a 4-1 victory over Wade Hampton High Wednesday in the second round of the class 2A playoffs.

The win was the third of the season for Barnwell High over region rival Wade Hampton.

Barnwell defeated Wade Hampton twice in the regular season.

The Wade Hampton goal was the first goal allowed by Barnwell High against a region opponent this year. Barnwell High has outscored its region foes 46-1 this season.

For the Lady Warhorses, the dynamic duo of forwards, Kaylyn Huggins and Lynnsey Jamison sprung into action.

Huggins and Jamison, who scored two goals apiece, made life miserable for the Wade Hampton defenders.

Despite controlling the game and holding a 15-3 advantage on shot attempts in the first half, Barnwell High held only a 2-1 lead over Wade Hampton High at the half.

Barnwell High coach Michael Allen said his team got a little slack after going head 2-0.

"I think we got a little comfortable since we had the two-goal lead and we beat this team twice this year,"Michael Allen said. "Offensively, we did a good job of attacking, but we didn't execute at time when we had opportunities to score."

The fun began for the Lady Warhorses five minutes into the contest.

Huggins received a pass from Jamison and maneuvered around two defenders before depositing the ball into the back of the net for the first score.

Minutes later, the lead stretched to 2-0 for Barnwell High.

This time, Kourtni Owens found Jamsion free on the inside. Owens shuffled the ball to Jamison, who punched the ball past the outstretched arms of the keeper into the net.

In the second half, the Lady Warhorses looked to put some distance between them and their adversaries.

Ten minutes into the second half, Jamison upped Barnwell High's lead to 3-1.

On the play, Jamison maneuvered past a defender, then dribbled the ball past the keeper, who came out of the goal to defend.

Later in the half, Huggins and Rush teamed up for a score with Rush on the assist for the fourth goal.

After giving up its first goal of the season against region opponents, the Lady Warhorses clamped down on the Red Devils the remainder of the game.

"I thought we allowed Wade Hampton to hang around in the game too long in the first half. In the second half, I thought we did a good job of regaining our intensity that we started the game. We had better spacing and we moved the ball around much better offensively," said Allen.

For Barnwell High, players performing well included Masey Mathias, Auburn Walters, Marriane Moore, Taylor Hooper, Tori Still, Auburn Walters, Katie McKay, Sydney Woodberry and Jacqueline Gray and goalkeeper Autumn Baker.