Vestavia Hills Knocks Off James Clemens in Double-OT to Advance to 7A Girls’ Soccer Final

HUNTSVILLE, AL – A tightly contested battle between Vestavia Hills and James Clemens in the AHSAA 2025 Class 7A State Soccer Championship semifinals proved why these two programs are among Alabama’s elite.

Both teams displayed speed, resilience, and determination, backed by stellar goalkeeping, as they fought through regulation, two scoreless overtime periods, and finally a shootout to settle the match.

Vestavia Hills (21-2-4) edged past James Clemens with a 4-3 victory in shots-from-the-mark, securing a 2-1 semifinal win. The Lady Rebels, led by Head Coach Brigid Meadow, now advance to Saturday’s 7A state championship against defending champion Auburn. The title match kicks off at 11:30 a.m. at the John Hunt Soccer Park in Huntsville.

Senior Emma Listi gave Vestavia Hills an early edge with a goal off a defensive turnover at the 11:57 mark in the first half. The 1-0 lead held until 13 minutes into the second half, when James Clemens’ junior midfielder Olivia Lawrence netted the equalizer for the Jets (14-3-4).

Despite Vestavia Hills’ victory, the Jets, under the guidance of Head Coach Erin Riddle, maintained the upper hand statistically, outshooting the Lady Rebels 24-18 overall and 12-10 on goal. James Clemens also controlled much of the second half pace.

Both goalkeepers stood out, with James Clemens’ Maddi Williams making eight saves and Vestavia Hills’ Brianna Tortorici recording 11. Their performances proved pivotal in keeping the game neck-and-neck across regulation and overtime.

The game was ultimately decided in the shootout, where Vestavia Hills converted four penalty kicks courtesy of Kelsey Redden, Cameron Dickerson, Kendall Roberts, and Katie Llewellyn. James Clemens saw successful conversions from Olivia Lawrence, Amelia Mitchell, and Haddie Patterson but fell short as Vestavia Hills clinched the victory.

Vestavia Hills now sets its sights on the championship match, looking to dethrone reigning champion Auburn and bring home the Class 7A title.

FEATURED IMAGE: Vestavia Hills’ Georgia Listi (8) streaks downfield in the Rebels’ semifinal battle with James Clemens as Jets defender Claire Ward (6) gives chase. (AHSAA PHOTO | David Holtsford)