St. James senior Katie Brightwell came into the AHSAA 2024 Class 1A/3A State Soccer girls’ semifinals Wednesday at the Loretta P. Spencer Sports Complex at Huntsville’s John Hunt Park as the AHSAA’s all-time leading scorer. She ended the Trojans’ 7-0 semifinal win over St. Luke’s with 5 more and carries her record of 258 goals into her final match in the state championship on Friday.

Brightwell had 11 shots on goal and made 3 in the first half and assisted on a fourth as the top-ranked Trojans (16-1-1) jumped to a quick 4-0 lead and breezed into the finals with the win.

The victory sends the Montgomery private school, coached by Charlie Brightwell and now 16-1-1 on the season, into the Class 1A/3A girls’ championship match vs. 19-1-1 Donoho on Friday at 2 p.m. The Falcons beat Madison Academy 5-0 in the other semifinal match Wednesday morning.

The fourth-ranked Wildcats (14-7-2), coached by Austin Beatty, had no answer for St. James’ offensive attacks. Brightwell’s ability to weave and drive toward the goal was the key. She had 3 other goals that were deflected by St. Luke’s goalkeeper Ashlyn Turner, who has 12 saves in the first half alone. Turner finished with 16 saves.

Brightwell, who has 70 goals this season, scored her first goal just 4 minutes into the match. She followed with goals at 22:41 on a corner kick and 28:33 with an assist from Hailey Vance. Brightwell assisted on the final first-half goal by freshman Natalie Barton at the 38:07 mark.

Brightwell got goals at 44:57 and 61:04 in the second half and Barton managed her second goal on Vance’s second assist of the match at 51:53. Sana Shuford had an assist on Brightwell’s final goal.

St. James, which totaled 23 shots on goal to just 5 for the Wildcats, will be making its second straight appearance in the state finals. The Trojans, who are looking for their first girls’ state title, fell 3-0 in last year’s finals to Westminster of Oak Mountain.

Donoho 5, Madison Academy 0

Donoho High School’s defense threw up an almost perfect game Wednesday in the AHSAA Class 1A/3A girls’ semifinal soccer match.

Coach Tim Melton’s 19-1-1 Falcons allowed only 3 shots on goal as Donoho moved into the finals to face St. James for the title on Friday at 2 p.m.

Erin Turley and Anna Kate Wallace each scored 2 goals for the Anniston school, also looking for its first championship. Zoe Christopher had the other goal for the Falcons.

Turley got the first goal 5 minutes into the match on an assist from Sophia Sanders. Her second goal came at 47:42 in the second half with an assist from Wallace. Wallace’s 2 goals came at 27:56 and 73:01. Christopher, who had the assist on Wallace’s final goal, scored at the 31:42 mark in the first half.

Goalkeeper Eden Autry had 10 saves for coach Kelly Murphy’s 9-8-1 Madison Academy squad.

AHSAA 2024 SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIPS

John Hunt Soccer Complex, Huntsville

Semifinals Schedule/Results

CLASS 1A/3A

GIRLS SEMIFINALS

St. James (16-1-1) 7, St. Luke’s (14-7-2) 0

Donoho (19-1-1) 5, Madison Academy (9-8-2) 0

Finals, Friday, 2 p.m.

St. James (16-1-1) vs. Donoho (19-1-1), Friday, 3 p.m.

BOYS SEMIFINALS

St. Luke’s (18-7-3) vs. Tuscaloosa Academy (14-5-2), Wednesday, 11 a.m.

Westminster-Oak Mountain (18-4-4) vs. Tanner (18-5-1), Wednesday, 11 a.m.

CLASS 4A

GIRLS SEMIFINALS

St. Michael (18-2) vs. Oneonta (10-11-1), Wednesday, 1 p.m.

Jacksonville (20-3-2) vs. Westminster Christian (16-2-1), Wednesday, 1 p.m.

BOYS SEMIFINALS

Bayside Academy (8-4-2) vs. Oneonta (15-7-2), Wednesday, 3 p.m.

Westbrook Christian (14-12-1) vs. Mars Hill Bible (14-10), Wednesday, 3 p.m.

CLASS 5A

GIRLS SEMIFINALS

Gulf Shores (19-5-4) vs. Sylacauga (18-3-0), Wednesday, 5 p.m.

Springville (21-1) vs. Guntersville (22-3-2), Wednesday, 5 p.m.

BOYS SEMIFINALS

Gulf Shores (19-7-1) vs. Tallassee (20-4-4), Wednesday, 7 p.m.

Southside (25-2-1) vs. Guntersville (24-3-1), Wednesday, 7 p.m.

CLASS 6A

GIRLS SEMIFINALS

Montgomery Academy (13-3-1) vs. Briarwood Christian (14-4-3), Thursday, 9 a.m.

Mountain Brook (13-3-4) vs. Athens (14-7-4), Thursday, 9 a.m.

BOYS SEMIFINALS

Spanish Fort (11-9-2) vs. Northridge (19-5-2), Thursday, 11 a.m.

Homewood (21-2-3) vs. Fort Payne (12-12), Thursday, 11 a.m.

CLASS 7A GIRLS SEMIFINALS

McGill-Toolen (16-2-4) vs. Auburn (18-3-1), Thursday, 1 p.m.

Hoover (20-4-2) vs. Huntsville (12-6-4), Thursday, 1 p.m.

BOYS SEMIFINALS

Fairhope (17-3-1) vs. Auburn (16-3-2), Thursday, 3 p.m.

Oak Mountain (27-0-1) vs. Huntsville (14-7-4), Thursday, 3 p.m.