The soccer season is underway as teams participated in pre-season jamborees and then officially got started on Tuesday night.

Starr’s Mil’s girls opened their 2005 season with a 2-1 loss to Harrison. Harrison struck first with a goal in the first half but the Lady Panthers answered 15 minutes into the second half when Kelley O’Hara scored a goal off of an assist from Carly Banks. Unfortunately, Harrison struck again with three minutes left in the game to pick up the win. Starr’s Mill goalkeeper Allie Matulia made 10 saves in the game.

The Lady Panthers hosted Chapel Hill Thursday night after the paper went to press, while the boys will take on Harrison on Friday at 5:30 p.m.

The Starr’s Mill boys traveled to take on Pope on Tuesday and picked up a 3-1 win over Pope. Keegan Hanie had two goals, while Jesse Phelps added the other. Riley Phelps had an assist in the win.

McIntosh’s boys opened the season with a 2-0 region win over Sandy Creek, while the Lady Chiefs opened with a 3-1 loss to Walton. Brittany Schneider scored early in the second half for the girls on an assist from Kelsey Quinn. Freshman Jad Sheikali scored both goals for the boys. The boys played at Creekside on Thursday evening after the paper went to press. The girls next game will be at Brookwood next Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

Sandy Creek’s Lady Patriots opened their 2006 season with a 5-1 win over Landmark Christian. They hosted Lithia Springs on Thursday after the paper went to press with the boys game starting directly after theirs.

Whitewater’s boys and girls took on St. Pius, with both of their boys and girls ranked third in AAAA, and both got wins. The Wildcats, ranked 10th in AAAA, won 4-2 with Ryan Pugh notching a hat trick and Brian Forero scoring the other goal. In addition to the goal scorers, Jordan Cooper, Ryan Madura, Zach Taylor, Andy DeBusk, Josh Adair, Kyle Adams, Chandler Caudelle and Matt McCrite all turned in good performances.

The Lady Wildcats, ranked fifth in AAAA, won in penalty kicks against St. Pius. Goal were scored by Brittany Vining, who had two goals, Bailey Powell, Claire Huff, Lizzie Spratt, Feagan Hunt, Emily Culbreth and Katie Schwartz. Coach Heather Allen cited great defense from Schwartz, Lisa Wilson, Allison Fannin and Jordan Brown.

In the Newnan jamboree last Friday, Whitewater defeated Newnan 2-0 and McIntosh 1-0 before losing to Starr’s Mill 4-0. Goal scorers in the jamboree for Whitewater were Schwartz, Powell and Jade Ah-low, while Kayla Stillions picked up an assist. Whitewater got solid goalkeeping from Wilson and Ali Young.

Whitewater’s boys and girls will play at Centennial on Friday at 6 and 8 p.m.

Fayette County’s girls opened the Lovejoy tournament with a 5-0 win over Cross Keys. They will play Tucker on Friday at 5:30 p.m. at the Lovejoy Soccer Complex. The boys also picked up a win over Cross Keys to kick off the tournament. They won the game 1-0 and took on Southside on Thursday evening after the paper went to press. They will meet Forysth Central tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Lovejoy Soccer Complex.

login to post comments