By MICHAEL BOYLAN
mboylan@thecitizennews.com

Four soccer teams in the state finals, four state champions. It feels really good to say that.

On Saturday, McIntosh and Starr's Mill sent their boys and girls soccer teams into battle and came out victorious. The Starr's Mill girls faced their AAA rival, Marist, while the boys team took on Heritage, a team that had handed the Panthers one of their losses earlier in the season. McIntosh's boys faced Parkview while the lady Chiefs took on Pope, the team that defeated them in the state semifinals last year.

The Starr's Mill Lady Panthers (19-1) kicked off the soccer action on Saturday afternoon and started with a bang. The team got on the scoreboard early with two goals in the first 20 minutes, one from Kacy Murray and one from Janet Burke. Marist was down 2-0 at the half but responded with a goal early in the second half to cut the lead to a goal.

Starr's Mill came back with a goal from Alison Graham, who scored off of an assist from Lindsey Wegryzyn, but found their lead cut to one goal again after another Marist goal. Janet Burke scored two more times in the second half and the panther defense clamped down, giving the Lady Panthers their second state title in as many years.

In the boys game, Starr's Mill (16-2-2) and Heritage went back and forth with scoring opportunities, but found themselves in a scoreless tie at the half. Both teams got a goal in the second half and found themselves knotted once again at the end of regulation. The Panthers were no strangers to overtime, playing in four overtime games this season, including one to Heritage which ended in a loss.

The loss was avenged in the first overtime however, when Robert Cooper scored off of an assist from Sammy Chang. The Panthers then hung on in the second overtime to claim their first state title.

Across town at McIntosh High School, the boys started the day with a game against Parkview. The Chiefs (19-2) had not lost all season to a AAAA opponent and was looking to keep it that way. Down 1-0 early, the Chiefs responded with three goals before the half. Steven Wilson netted the first goal, heading in a throw in from Nick Brooke about 26 minutes into the first half. Dave Hogan followed suit soon after with a header off of a throw in from Kyle Gaylor.

With the clock winding down before the half, senior and leading goal scorer Beau Balesky took a corner kick which Travis Britt put in the back of the net. The Chiefs then played solid defense, keeping the score the same and their clutches on the state title.

The Lady Chiefs played Pope after the boys game and found possibly their stiffest competition all year. Pope scored seconds before halftime, but did not knock the wind out of the Lady Chiefs sails. Keri Pendergrass, who competed in the state track meet in Albany earlier in the day, scored four minutes into the second half to tie the game.

The two teams went back and forth for the duration of regulation and through two 10 minute overtimes. Instead of having a shootout to determine a clear-cut champion, the GHSA names the two teams that are tied at the end of two overtimes co-champions. Pope was named a co-champion in last year's state finals. McIntosh remained undefeated all season.

And now, just as quickly as it was upon us, soccer season is over. Next year promises to be just as exciting, if not more so. As it currently stands, McIntosh, Starr's Mill and Fayette County will all be a part of the new GHSA classification, 4-AAAAA. That would mean a much tougher region schedule for the three teams and that one of them would not make it to the state playoffs. There is a possibility that all that could change, but for soccer fans it's fun to think about.

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