The girls soccer team’s season ended in the Class 4A semifinals with a 3-0 loss to Blessed Trinity on May 7. Under first-year head coach Doug Altizer, the Knights advanced to the fourth round of the state playoffs for the first time since 2023 and finished with a 7-0 region record. The team won Region 4-AAAA and remained ranked in the national top 50 throughout the season.
Altizer attributed this season’s success to the team’s close bond and family dynamic.
“I felt like one thing that stood out this year was a real sense of comrade and genuine friendship with the group,” Altizer said. “Everyone was supportive and everyone contributed to a total effort all season.”
Even with their strong finish, the Knights opened their season with back-to-back losses to Lovett and North Atlanta. As the season progressed, senior McKenzie Godfrey said the team’s relationship allowed them to stay composed and that became one of its biggest strengths.
“I think something that separated this year’s team from previous seasons was our patience,” Godfrey said. “The beginning of the season didn’t start how we wanted, and we were anxious to have real competition during a lot of our region games when it was easy to slack off, but we did a good job staying patient and putting work in at practice to prepare.”
Midtown went undefeated in Region 4-AAAA and beat Dalton, Walnut Grove and Druid Hills in the playoffs before reaching the semifinals. The Knights scored 13 goals across their first three playoff games and allowed only one goal heading into their matchup with Blessed Trinity.
Junior Livi Bodie said the growing support from Midtown fans fueled the team’s postseason run.
“Building up an electric environment and student section throughout playoffs was both motivating and very fun to see,” Bodie said. “Players, parents, coaches and everyone was so invested in the team and Midtown culture.”
Bodie also credited the team’s chemistry for its success.
“Our team had an excellent sisterhood dynamic, and we all felt close throughout the season,” Bodie said. “The chemistry we built outside of soccer helped us bond when we were playing in crucial games.”
The team had seven seniors this year, five of whom had been on varsity for three or more seasons. Altizer said the senior class played a pivotal role throughout the postseason.
“The seniors truly led by setting an example starting in tryouts,” Altizer said. “McKenzie Godfrey seemed to always find a way to score in close games, and Eva Isakov was instrumental in running the midfield. Halle Prevost, Eve Nahmias and [Khiala] Ferrell were also able to post shutout after shutout on the defensive end.”
Senior defender Halle Prevost said the program has evolved in how it approaches high-stakes games.
“From my freshman season to now, I’ve noticed a more tactical shift in how we approach bigger games,” Prevost said. “There’s more of an emphasis on what the team can do to mitigate difficult opponents rather than focusing on individual adjustments.”
Blessed Trinity scored three goals in the first half of the semifinal, but Prevost said the second half reflected the team’s identity.
“I think the second half of our last game in the Final Four really captured the will of the team all season,” Prevost said. “Although we were not able to make a comeback, we were able to not concede any more goals.”
This season marked Altizer’s first year as Midtown’s head coach. Godfrey said the transition to a new coaching staff shaped the early part of the season but ultimately strengthened the team.
“Having a new coach is always difficult, at first,” Godfrey said. “But it ended up making a big positive difference because he had experience, knew what he was talking about and coached in a fun and respectful way.”
With the loss of several seniors heading into next year, Bodie stressed the importance of underclassmen gaining exposure. She said younger players gained crucial experience during the playoff run that will carry into next season.
“With our new coach, anything is achievable for our team,” Bodie said. “Next season, even though we are losing key starters, the team should fill out from position to position, and I think our wingers will step up big.”
Even though Godfrey’s time representing Midtown is over, she said this season set a new benchmark for the program.
“We proved this season what we’re capable of, and that standard doesn’t change going forward,” Godfrey said.
Similar to Godfrey, Altizer believes this season’s accomplishments have laid the groundwork for further success.
“It is definitely a season I will look back on with a lot of pride in what we all were able to accomplish, and what this group set for the program moving forward,” Altizer said.
