Soccer County, USA

The McIntosh Lady Chiefs have had plenty of reasons to celebrate in the state playoffs. They have made the state semifinals, knocked off Marist and have yet to be scored upon. Emily Lecomte (facing) and Michaela Johnson (#3) celebrate. Photo/Bryan McDermott/photosbymcd.com.

Of the eight boys and girls soccer teams still in the hunt for a Class AAAA state title, six of them are from this region. After games played on Tuesday and Wednesday, we'll know if the always sought after "Fayette Final" (championship games featuring only Fayette County schools) is coming our way once again.

If you’re looking for a rematch between Starr’s Mill and McIntosh's boys teams for all the marbles, you may not have to wait too much longer. The Chiefs and Panthers are one game away from meeting in the AAAA state final but the one obstacle each team has left is a doozy.

McIntosh’s boys will take on Marist Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. If you are a fan of the Chiefs, you will remember Marist (15-4-2) as the team that thwarted McIntosh’s attempt at an undefeated, championship winning season with a 2-1 win in last year’s state final. Since then, McIntosh has gone 20-1 with 13 shutouts. The Chiefs defeated Evans 1-0 in the quarterfinal. McIntosh, the top ranked team in AAAA, and Marist, ranked fourth, tangled earlier this season and the Chiefs won 4-1. They undoubtedly wanted to exact some revenge for the end of last season and they will need to do it one more time if they hope to have a chance to add another championship to their list of accomplishments this year.

Starr’s Mill (17-3-1) dispatched eighth ranked Lakeside, Evans 1-0 in overtime on Friday and will play at Lakeside, DeKalb on Tuesday night. The Panthers, ranked second in Class AAAA, have won four in a row since a 3-1 loss at Woodward Academy. They have posted eight shutouts this year. Lakeside, DeKalb (15-2) is ranked third in AAAA. They defeated Upson Lee 1-0 to reach the semifinal and have defeated Whitewater twice this year including a win in the final seconds of regulation in the second round of the state playoffs.

Should the local teams win, they are scheduled to face off Friday at McIntosh.

You wouldn’t be out of line for calling the AAAA girls soccer seminfinals poetic justice. Many rightfully consider region 5-AAAA to be the finest in state soccer and the girls soccer teams have certainly proved it this year with the four seeds from that region battling it out this Wednesday for spots in the AAAA state final.

Whitewater (18-2-1), the top ranked team in AAAA, beat Lakeside, Evans 4-0 on Saturday and will now host eighth ranked Northgate (14-4), 3-0 winners over Wayne County, at 6 p.m. on Wednesday. Whitewater beat Northgate 2-0 on March 4. Just down the road on Wednesday, Starr’s Mill (19-2), ranked second in Class AAAA, will host fourth ranked McIntosh (17-4) at 6 p.m. The Lady Panthers beat Lee County 2-0 to make the semifinal. They haven’t lost since Mar. 19’s 3-0 loss to Whitewater and have posted seven shutouts in that span. McIntosh poured on the goals in the quarterfinal match at Glynn Academy, winning 6-0, to make the semifinal game. The Lady Chiefs have won six games in a row, five of which came against teams ranked in the top 10 in Class AAAA or the top 13 in the state. They have not allowed a goal yet in the state playoffs.

The state final is set for Saturday but the schedule could change if the boys and girls teams from one school were scheduled to host the final.