Sir Thomas Browne, an author, once said, “Women do most delight in revenge.”

The McIntosh Lady Chiefs felt delightful Friday after ending Region 2-AAAA rival Whitewater’s three-game winning streak by hanging on for a 1-0 victory in Fayetteville.

It was payback for McIntosh, which was knocked out of the state semifinals last season by Whitewater, which went on to win the state title.

“Oh, that loss last season was definitely on our minds,” Clark said. “It was something that I mentioned a few times before the game and at halftime.”

McIntosh’s Kate Marnock, off an assist by Kerri Reid, scored the lone goal of the match early in the first half.

Three seniors, defensemen Tawny Moffat and KC Hewitt and goalkeeper Olivia Tucker, carried fourth-ranked McIntosh (5-3-11, 2-1 region) the rest of the way, completely shutting down fifth-ranked Whitewater’s potent offense. It was the first match in which Whitewater (4-3, 2-1) failed to score a goal this season.

“Our defense played with urgency,” Clark said. “Tawny and KC are two reliable senior defenders. Olivia’s got a lot of aggressiveness, quickness and field presence.”

Filling in for McIntosh’s regular staring goalkeeper, Nikki Atkinson, who was out for undisclosed reasons, Tucker was exceptional in her first career start in net. She made two one-handed saves in the first half alone, leaping to deflect a a free kick by Georgia signee Bailey Powell in the first 10 minutes and later swatting away a corner kick by Emily Culbreth.

Aside from Marnock’s goal, Whitewater goalkeeper Ali Young was just as effective in net. And Whitewater’s defense, particularly Powell, Jewelia Strickland and Lacey McGowan, were steady.

Young’s best save came with 11:01 remaining in the second half when she dove out of her net to deflect a shot by Emily Husted on a breakaway.

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