The entire

season for the McIntosh Lady Chiefs has come down to this one game, the

final in the AAAAA girls soccer tournament.

A win marks

them as state champions, a title they shared last year with their opponent

in Saturday's final, the Pope Lady Greyhounds.

To make it

to the final, McIntosh had to defeat Harrison High School's Lady Hoyas.

At halftime of the semifinal game neither team had scored. The pressure

was mounting for the Lady Chiefs. The team had scored 25 goals in the

first two games of the playoffs and one goal in the third game.

The tie was

broken less than two minutes in to the second half on a goal by Julie

Herdic. Herdic headed the ball to herself and sent a booming volley into

the back of the net.

Harrison challenged

the Chiefs some more in the second half but was kept out of the net by

goalkeeper Megan Bernard. Bernard made several outstanding saves and kept

the Lady Chiefs ahead and unscored upon in the playoffs.

Melanie Schneider

gave McIntosh an insurance goal with 10 minutes left to play in the game,

sealing their 2-0 win and another trip to the title game.

"We didn't

play our style of game in the first half," said Coach Stephen Buckner.

"We played better in the second half, but it is hard to maintain

your discipline when the opponent's defense is packed in."

Buckner feels

that Pope's style of play is more suited to the Lady Chiefs style and

thinks the game will be played more openly, with more space to work in.

Saturday's

match should be amazing. Both teams have had two tight games in the quarterfinal

and semifinal rounds. McIntosh beat Sprayberry 1-0 before the 2-0 win

over Harrison, while Pope knocked off Starr's Mill 2-1 before edging past

Walton 1-0.

McIntosh has

outscored their opponents 28-0 in the postseason, while Pope has outscored

their opponents, 18-3. Both teams are filled with talented and skilled

players and neither team wants to share the title again.

The game will

be played at Pope High School in Marietta. To get to Pope, take I-75 North

to Exit 267 A/B, the Canton Rd. Connector, and take a right on Sandy Plains

Road. You will pass Sprayberry High School. Go to the third traffic light,

where there will be a McDonald's on the corner, and take a right on to

Post Oak Tritt. Go through two traffic lights, take a left on Hembree

Road and the school will be a mile and a half down the road on the left.

The time of the game has yet to be announced.

Visit The Citizen's

Web site today for an update.

Back

to News Home Page | Back

to the top of the page