Tigers to play for region title Tuesday

It probably wasn’t even on the map that the Fayette County Tigers varsity soccer team could compete for a region title this year. In fact, it probably wasn’t even in the glove compartment.

The Tigers have a perfect region record going into their final region game, though, and with a win or tie over Starr’s Mill Tuesday night, the Tigers, ranked 10th in AAAAA, could take home the region crown.

Fayette County hosted Mundy’s Mill Wednesday night for their senior night game and won 11-0. Seniors Bryan Collier, Jay Page, Jared Schnute, Josh Partington, Josh Joslin, Ben Eldridge, Jeff Cooley, Ryan Mickey, and Matt Wood were honored in pregame festivites and then had some fun in the game. Collier had five goals in the win, while Partington nabbed a goal and an assist and Page and Schnute each had a goal a piece. Mickey added two assists in the game, while sophomore Chris Rawson scored once and freshman Ryan Whitehead scored two goals and had an assist.

The win over Mundy’s Mill was their 13th in a row after two losses to start the season and coach Ben Thacker feels that those losses are worlds away from how the team is playing right now. Though next Tuesday’s match looms large and fills the Tigers with vision of a region title and a number one seed in the state tournament, there is the game with Lassiter, which took place Friday after the paper went to press.

"We have to take one match at a time and concentrate on playing together,” said Thacker. “No one really expected us to be in this position after losing 13 seniors last year. This group of seniors has really come together. I am very proud of them. We will have to work hard for 80 minutes to play with Lassiter. That's who we have to concentrate on right now."

Tuesday’s match will take place at Starr’s Mill at 7:30 p.m., directly following the match between the Starr’s Mill and Fayette County girls.