WALHALLA — When the Batesburg-Leesville High School boys' soccer team made its way to the Upstate on Saturday afternoon, plenty of fond memories must have filled the team bus for the Panthers, who knocked Walhalla out of the playoffs a season ago at the Walhalla Soccer Stadium.

But that memory seemed to resonate just as strong for the Razorbacks, who returned the favor from a year ago by defeating the Panthers by a final score 1-0 to eliminate Batesburg-Leesville from the postseason, and advance to the Upper State title game on Tuesday at Emerald.

It marks the Razors' (18-4) first trip to the Upper State final in two years, and for head coach Michael Estes, it was a satisfying win, especially given that his team didn't put on its best show of the year, but still managed a victory.

"For them, I think they're excited because it's something they missed last year," he said. "And to beat the team that we lost to last year really makes them feel better."

In a game that came down to a duel between the goalkeepers, Walhalla senior co-captain Daniel Guinn provided the only scoring of the match when he netted a penalty kick within the final minute of the first half, which had started out well for the Razorbacks.

Early on, Walhalla had a number of good looks at the goal from Salomon Garcia and Eric Moxley, but the Razors went on a slump from there, which helped keep the visiting Panthers in contention until the final whistle.

"We fell apart in the last 15 or 20 minutes of the first half, and that gave them a lot of confidence," Estes said. "They came out in the second half with confidence, and sometimes when you give a team confidence, they start playing well."

Batesburg-Leesville seriously threatened to score just three times in the second half, with its best chance coming within the final two minutes of regulation.

But Razors' goalkeeper Cody Dutton, who has battled a sprained wrist much of the season, made a leaping, one-handed slap save in the right side of the net to preserve the win.

"Cody made a great save, and that's why he's there," Estes said. "In the first half he bobbled one or two, but then he came back, and that's the sign of a good goalkeeper."

Now as Walhalla prepares to travel to Emerald, the Razorbacks will be attempting to advance to their third-ever apperance in the State title game in Columbia, the most recent of which came in 2006, after the Razors defeated both Batesburg-Leesville and Emerald along the way in the postseason.

That year, Walhalla was the No. 5 seed from the Upstate when it traveled to top-seeded Emerald in the Upper State title game, but will go this time as the second seed in a matchup of the top two-seeded teams.

Guinn, who was a member of that team, said going back won't be much different this time, as they are closer in seeding, but are still as well-matched as the last time around.

"It's the same mindset, but we were a little more angry two years ago when we were a lower seed, but we're hoping to go all the way this season," he said.

The game time for Tuesday has yet to be announced.

Walhalla 1, Batesburg-Leesville 0

B-L 0 0 — 0

WHS 1 0 — 1

Goals

W — Guinn, 39:00