Northwestern made it look easy.
The Trojans (25-2) scored five first-half goals and then coasted to a 6-1 win over Greenwood on Saturday as the Class AAAA playoffs continued. Ricky Garbanzo scored three times and Alex Martinez added two for the winners.
Next up is the Upper State finals at Mauldin on Monday. Mauldin downed Fort Mill 4-1 on Saturday.
Northwestern is ranked second in the state while Mauldin (17-6) is seventh.
The last comment heard prior to the game from a tight knot of Northwestern players was the need to get on the board early. That mindset has played out in each of the Trojans' first three postseason matches.
Greenwood controlled the ball for about five seconds before launching a ball toward Northwestern defender Kevin Ray who settled and lofted a pass ahead to teammate Ryan Foster. Foster flicked the pass while on the run ahead to Dennis Moore.
Moore took just a couple touches, saw Greenwood's goal keeper, Keller Pitts, defending the near post and deposited the ball into the wide-open mouth of the goal.
The Trojans led 1-0 after 14 seconds.
Greenwood tied the game in the eighth minute when Trent Uldrick's shot in traffic beat Northwestern's goalie Sam Faris. But Saturday was going to be a good offensive night, again, for the two-time defending state champs.
"It's kind of strange," Northwestern coach Dom Wren started, "we have created a golden chance in the first minute of each game so far. It's such a confidence boost for us. To score quick and early like that; it makes it tough for them to come back."
Martinez scored the go-ahead goal in the 13th minute. Pitts looked to clear a ball out of the box but Martinez intercepted the pass and dribbled back into the box and scored from 15 yards out.
Garbanzo scored his three goals over a four-minute span to help his team pull away.
The junior forward has seen how getting out to a big lead changes the complexion of a playoff games.
"It helps. Right off the bat we are ahead," he said.
Wren said it would be easy for him, as a coach, to look at what last year's team and think he'd like to have that team back.
"Honestly, I haven't looked back to last year and that's the biggest compliment I can give this team," Wren said. "The team leadership is providing the focus.
"For me it is taking care of the tactical things. This is a highly motivated group."
At Northwestern
NORTHWESTERN 6
GREENWOOD 1
First half
N -- 1:00 Dennis Moore, assisted by Ryan Foster and Kevin Ray
G -- 8:00 Trent Uldrick, unassisted
N -- 13:00 Alex Martinez, unassisted
N -- 14:00 Ricky Garbanzo, unassisted
N -- 67:00 Garbanzo, unassisted
N -- 18:00 Garbanzo, assisted by Martinez
Second half
N -- Martinez, assisted by Jeremy Dobbins
Shots on goal -- Greenwood 3, Northwestern 13
Corner kicks -- Greenwood 0, Northwestern 6
Goalies -- Greenwood -- Keller Pitts (2 saves); Northwestern -- Sam Faris (3 saves).
Records -- Greenwood 12-11; Northwestern 25-2
