Just like the NCAA Championship the night before, the

matches on Tuesday night between McIntosh and Fayette county's

soccer teams lived up to the hype. The girls teams met first, battling

for almost 20 minutes without a goal. The Lady Chiefs scored 19

minutes into the game, when Keri Pendergrass made a beautiful

cross to Julie Herdic, who volleyed the ball in the net. McIntosh

controlled the pressure and the pace of the game for the next few

minutes with Ansley Franke scoring amidst confusion in front of the

Fayette net. The Lady Chiefs scored a gain less than a minute later

after Melanie Schneider hammered in a rebound off of the Fayette keeper.

McIntosh appeared to put more pressure on the Lady Tigers

and controlled their offense better. The Lady Tigers seemed kind

of rushed, playing long balls and not able to setup good chances.

A minute into the second half and McIntosh scored again. Julie

Herdic sent a beautiful pass to Keri Pendergrass, who scored her

second goal of the game. The game went back and forth for the

next twenty minutes until Fayette got on the scoreboard. Amanda

Wix pounded the ball in amidst a barrage of shots. The lady

Chiefs were not done though, Julie Herdic set up Keri Pendergrass

one more time, giving the forward a hat trick.

McIntosh captured the region title and will go to the

playoffs ranked number one in AAAA. Fayette County is ranked

seventh in AAAA and will be off until April 13 when they will

host Redan.

The boys match was packed with excitement as well.

The Chiefs scored in the first six minutes when Brian Rhodes

connected on a pass to Beau Balesky. Balesky made a beautiful cross that

Stephen Wilson tapped in for the score. The teams went back and

forth and a Fayette goal was called back due to a foul. The defenses of

both teams played superbly, stopping several chances an scoring

opportunities. The first half ended with the Chiefs ahead 1-0.

The second half opened with Matt Clements and Beau

Balesky setting up a drive that resulted in Balesky driving the ball past

the Fayette keeper, J.B. Wood. It was Balesky's 16th goal of the

season. Less than a minute later, Balesky took another ferocious shot,

it bounced off of Wood and Jason Castro put the ball in the net.

The Tigers did not quit, Trevor Bowman launched a long throw

that Matt Kelso, the Chiefs keeper, barely tipped before it went

in. With five minutes left, Bowman made another long throw

which Andrew Doggendorf headed past Kelso. The Tigers tried again

to tie the score but it was too late.

The McIntosh boys won the region, it was also the first time

in six meetings that the Chiefs defeated the Tigers. These two

teams may meet in the regional championship, if they can advance in

the first round of the regional playoffs.McIntosh's boys and

girls will play the regionals at home.

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