The McIntosh Lady Chiefs and the Starr's Mill Lady

Panthers, ranked number one in AAAA and AAA respectively, got to

face each other for the first time ever this weekend. The two teams

traveled to play in the Golden Isles High School Shootout in

Jekyll Island, each in opposite brackets so that a face off in the

final would be possible. The two teams advanced out of their

brackets and got the match up that they wanted.

McIntosh had the advantage in numbers, as the Lady

Panthers leading scorers, Janet Burke and Alice Martin, were in

Europe playing with their Region Olympic Development teams.

Several Lady Panthers were injured and the team could only field the

required 11 players. It did not stop the game from being the

closest game of the year for the two teams. It was a defensive

battle and it took a little while for the teams to get on the

scoreboard. McIntosh scored first with a goal from Julie Herdic but

Kacy Murray evened the score for Starr's Mill, scoring off of a

pass from Amanda Thurber. The game was tied for awhile as both

defenses held off attacks. Allison Graham was able to give

Starr's Mill a 2-1 advantage by scoring right before the half.

Ansley Franke tied the game for the Lady Chiefs at the start

of the second half, but Starr's Mill bounced right back when

Brady Ragan knocked one in. Several minutes later, Ansley

Franke notched her second goal of the game to tie the game at

three goals a piece. Jordan Turner scored for the Lady Panthers

off of a corner kick to give them a 4-3 advantage but McIntosh's

Dana Van Winkle scored to tie the game again. Regulation time went

out and the two teams played two scoreless 10 minute overtimes.

After the overtime periods, the two teams played a shootout.

The Lady Chiefs first three shooters each put the ball in the net

and Starr's Mill was unable to score. McIntosh won the game 3-0

and was crowned the Golden isles High School Shootout

Champions. Starr's Mill will play at Brookwood next Tuesday at

6 pm for their final game of the regular season, while

McIntosh will host Rockdale County for a game at 7:30 pm. It will be

Senior Night for the Lady Chiefs.

<!-------------