The pre-season soccer rankings have been released and six Fayette County schools are ranked in the top 10 of their classifications.

On the girls side, McIntosh’s Lady Chiefs, back to back state champions, are ranked first in AAAA, while Whitewater’s Lady Wildcats are ranked fifth. The two teams will tangle on March 24 at 5:30 p.m. at Whitewater High School. McIntosh will kick off their season on Feb. 15 at Walton High School at 7:30 p.m., while Whitewater will start the season on Feb. 14 at St. Pius, ranked third in AAAA, at 5:30 p.m.

On the boys side in AAAA, McIntosh, last year’s AAAA runner-up, is tied for first with last year’s state champs, Woodward Academy, while Whitewater is ranked 10th. The Chiefs and Wildcats will meet on March 24 at Whitewater at 7:30 p.m. Whitewater’s boys kick off the season on Feb. 14 at St. Pius, also ranked third in AAAA, at 7:30 p.m., while the Chiefs start their 2006 campaign at Sandy Creek, also on Feb. 14, at 7:30 p.m.

In AAAAA, Starr’s Mill’s Lady Panthers are ranked second behind Parkview, while the boys are ranked fifth. The game that everyone wants to know about, which is their annual match with McIntosh, will be played at McIntosh on March 3 at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. with the girls playing first. The boys will start the season on Feb. 11 at ninth ranked Centennial at 3:30 p.m., while the girls start the 2006 season with a home game against fifth ranked Harrison at 8 p.m. on Feb. 14.