DULUTH, Ga. — East Hall was looking to take that next step. Islands was looking to cement a dominant 2026 campaign as the two teams met for the Class 3A state championship on Tuesday.

East Hall keeper Christian Velasquez makes a save during the Classc 3A state finals on Tuesday against islands. The Vikings lost 6-0 to the Sharks. (photo/Laney Ertzberger)

East Hall keeper Christian Velasquez makes a save during the Classc 3A state finals on Tuesday against islands. The Vikings lost 6-0 to the Sharks. (photo/Laney Ertzberger)

It was the Sharks who walked away with a 6-0 rout at Duluth High School’s Tim Maxwell Stadium to capture the school’s first-ever state team title in any sport since the school was created in 2012.

Islands (22-2) did not allow a single goal in the 2026 playoffs, stifling a Vikings offense that had scored a classification-best 10 goals over the previous three rounds.

East Hall (13-9) was the upstart No. 18 seed that few expected to get the title match. But they took down No. 2 seed Johnson, No. 3 seed West Laurens, and No. 7 Oconee County -- all on the road -- on the way to the finals.

"We played away at every single opportunity, like we go down five hours to Savannah, then we get matched up against the No. 2 seed region champion, play against No. 7 seed region champion, the No. 3 region champion, and then in the final against another region champion," East Hall coach Alec Zimmerman said. "So the run was as hard as it could have possibly been."

But the Sharks were not going to be the Vikings final upset victim. They scored three goals in the first 20 minutes while not allowing a single shot on goal on defense.

Andrew McLaughlin gave the Sharks the early 1-0 lead, guiding in a shot to the far post off a beautiful cross from Colt Lawhorn with 33:23 left in the first half.

East Hall keeper Christian Velasquez kept it a one-goal game in the 14th minute, making a point-blank range, diving save after another Islands run and cross into the box.

But moments later, the Sharks struck again. JJ Stein made it 2-0 on a deflection off a Vikings defender and then four minutes later Tao Harlan pushed in another goal off a scrabble in front of the net for a 3-0 advantage.

The Sharks offense continued to pour it on in the first half as Jordan Schultz knocked in a shot off a cross with just over 12 minutes left for a stunning 4-0 lead.

In the second half, Dylan Coggins scored off a rebound off the post to push the lead to 5-0 with 20:26 left in the match.

Sid Johnson capped the scoring for Islands with a PK goal with just 1:33 left after being dragged down in the box.

Despite the tough loss, Zimmerman also said he expects his group to use this year's playoff run as motivation as they continue to build the program into a perennial playoff stalwart.

"While we're graduating eight seniors, we still have a very, very strong core of guys who are returning from our style, like our starting lineup," Zimmerman said. "It's hard for them to accept what just happened. But I also think the guys are intelligent enough, wise enough to take it as another lesson, another point of motivation. And then hopefully we come back here next year, and then we know exactly what it feels like, what it takes, what the pressure is, all those things."