By MICHAEL BOYLAN

Sports Editor

The Lady Tigers soccer team from Fayette County is off to a good start. They defeated the Griffin Bears last Saturday, 2-0. Mandy Kovach scored off of an assist by Christine Wix in the game's 20th minute. It was Kovach's tenth goal of the season. Jennifer Puckett scored the second goal of the game when the ball rebounded off of her and into the net. The Lady Tigers outshot Griffin 19 to 3.

On Thursday night, the boys team hosted Woodstock. Woodstock was playing without their top scorer and without the guidance of their head coach. It did not stop them from playing a great game though. Fayette County outshot Woodstock 24-9 but the game was scoreless with ten minutes remaining. The Tigers were awarded a penalty kick when Derek Walton was taken down inside the box. Brent Turner took the shot, got the goal and gave the Tigers their tenth victory of the season. The Tigers, ranked ninth in AAAA will host Griffin on Tuesday night.

The McIntosh boys soccer team shut out the Stockbridge Tigers 6-0. It improved their record to 7-0 and pushed them to a seventh place ranking in AAAA. Beau Balesky had a hat trick in the win while Matt Clements added two goals and Paul Kelly scored one. Balesky has scored 14 goals this season, Clements has 13 and 15 Chiefs have scored a total of 54 goals. They have only allowed two goals all season.

The Chiefs may have one of the most well-rounded teams in their history. "Every one of these players is capable of playing a number of different positions," Coach Jeff Ford stated. "What I like best is how they all work together to win each game." The Chiefs will have some big games in the next two weeks, facing Griffin, Newnan, state powerhouse Walton and their ninth ranked crosstown rivals Fayette County.

The Lady Chiefs, ranked second in AAAA, faced a very physical Griffin team on Friday evening and won 4-0. The game was scoreless until the final five minutes of the first half. McIntosh was awarded a penalty kick and Julie Herdic capitalized, giving her team the 1-0 lead at the half. "The game was very physical," Coach Stephen Buckner said. "They decided to play more aggressive in the second half and the goals came." Julie Herdic scored another goal while Morgan Pinkston and Tabitha Lowery each scored one. Melanie Schneider, Tabitha Lowery and Nikki Stone each had an assist in the victory as well. The Lady Chiefs outshot Griffin 22-2 and gear up for a series of important games starting on Friday against eighth ranked Walton.

Starr's Mill's girls soccer coach Jamie Brotemarkle faced a tough task on Friday night when the Lady Panthers hosted Harrison High School. The coach of Harrison is Coach Brotemarkle's husband. Starr's Mill showed why they are ranked number one in AAA as they beat Harrison 6-0. It was not any easy win though, their opponents boasted a national Olympic Development player, Ali Lovelace. Lovelace is a senior, who has recently signed with Notre Dame.

Lovelace was prevented from doing any damage by Amanda Thurber, who played outstanding defense. The Lady Panthers scored three minutes into the game when Kacy Murray fed Alison Graham in front of the net. The second goal came in the 22nd minute on a goal by Janet Burke. Alice Martin assisted Brady Ragan, who flipped the ball past the keeper in the closing minutes of the first half. The second half was pretty much the same, the Panthers scored in the seventh minute of the second half when Kacy Murray knocked in an assist from Janet Burke. Six minutes later Cathryn Slasinski assisted Janet Burke for a goal and six minutes after that Slasinski set up Alice Martin for the final goal of the evening. The final score was 6-0 and the lady panthers were gearing up for a game on Tuesday night at crosstown rivals Sandy Creek. Starr's Mill will travel to fifth ranked Woodward Academy on Friday night.They will travel to the Jekyll Island Unvitational next weekend, with the possibility of playing McIntosh in the finals.

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