Both the Richmond Hill High School boys and girls soccer teams nabbed victories over the weekend, and, coincidentally, this earns them both third seeds from Region 3AAA for the forthcoming state playoff tournament.

The girls beat South Effingham on Friday for the fourth time this season with a final score of 5-1. This gives the girls a 15-1 overall record which is the best win-loss record in RHHS girls soccer history, and ties them for most wins in RHHS soccer history with the 2003 boys semi-final team (15-2-3).

Goals were scored by Lauren Hall (2), Lori Barnes, Laura Nunnery and Jennifer Adams. Nunnery made three assists while keeper Sarah Parker garnered six saves.

The Lady Wildcats narrowly missed a number two seed into the state playoffs, placing third due to losing the sixth tie breaker with St. Vincent’s (goal differential) by one goal.

"It’s too bad that the region secretary decided against our region having a straight play in the tourney for state seeding (where the two best teams play for No. 1 and No. 2 seeds) so that the north end of the region would be able to get a top seed and host a game," said girls head coach Steve Kollman. "It deprived our No. 5 ranked girls the opportunity to play for a true region championship, as well as two home games in the state playoffs. Three of the four top girls and boys soccer teams are in the south sub-region each year and now you have a situation that penalizes the programs that put in the hours to compete at the state level and rewards the ones that don’t."

"Now we have to take our show on the road and give them a taste of Richmond Hill soccer," added Kollman.

As they enter the state tournament, they will enter the first round by facing a team to be determined from region 2AAA, which is in the Columbus area. The girls currently have an overall record of 15-1-0 and 7-1 for region play.

The boys beat Benedictine 2-0 on Saturday with goals scored by Campbell Berry and Josh Biering. Biering had an assist, and keeper Zach Alltop garnered five saves.

"We controlled the game with an excellent combination of defense and attack," said head boys coach Wade Wright. "I think this is the most complete game we have played all year. If we can keep this intensity and stay this healthy, we have a chance. It was an excellent game from a tactical standpoint."

This victory leaves the boys with an 11-3-2 overall record and 6-2 for region play. As they enter the state tournament, they will enter the first round by facing a team to be determined from region 2AAA, which is in the Columbus area.

The boys and girls teams both now have a break period before entering the state tournament which begins April 26 for the girls and April 27 for the boys.