Although

the area supports every sport that is played, this is

soccer country.

The

excitement has been growing for weeks, and now the season

has officially begun. Tuesday night saw Newnan play the

McIntosh Lady Chiefs in Peachtree City, while East

Coweta's girls played at Fayette County High School. The

Lady Tigers and the Lady Chiefs opened with wins and have

yet to be scored upon this season.

McIntosh,

which is a perennial powerhouse, defeated Newnan, 4-0,

but did not score a goal until the second half of the

match. The Lady Chiefs return a number of players from

last year's squad, which was known for its speed and

talent. The Lady Chiefs played at Stockbridge last night

and the Lady Cougars will play at Upson Lee tonight at 7

p.m.

Fayette

County handled the East Coweta Lady Indians relatively

easily Tuesday night, winning 5-0. East Coweta played

solid defense for the first half, only trailing 1-0. The

Lady Tigers exploded for four goals in the second half

and secured the win. Senior Dana Teat scored two goals

for the Lady Tigers, while Alison Kirkwood, Christine Wix

and Faith Joslin each scored one goal. The Lady Tigers

will play at Stockbridge Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Starr's

Mill's boys opened the season Tuesday against Pope. The

Panthers lost 5-2, but would rather face stiff

competition and lose than play easy teams and win. The

theory is that by the end of the season the Panthers will

be playing at a stronger level because of playing teams

of a higher caliber.

The

competition keeps coming as both the boys and the

defending state champion girls team enter the Brookwood

tournament. The Lady panthers played their first game of

the tournament Thursday night and the boys begin the

tournament Friday. The Panthers are scheduled to face

Fayette County Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

In other

upcoming games, the Newnan boys squad will play at

Wheeler at 7 p.m. Friday and will host Carver-Columbus at

5:30 p.m. Tuesday. The McIntosh boys will play at

Upson-Lee at 2 p.m. Saturday and will host Lovejoy at

7:30 p.m. Tuesday. The Sandy Creek Lady Patriots will

host Douglas County at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.