Both Dawson County soccer programs lost at Buford High School on Thursday, April 1. 

Despite the Lady Tigers best efforts, Buford won 7-0, scoring three goals in the first half and four goals in the second. Lady Tigers head coach Chess Hamby had high praise for his goalies at the end of the game, who blocked over 15 shots. 

“Our goalies have done a phenomenal job all season,” Hamby said after the game. “They both have a ton of saves on the year. Lydia has a bomb of a leg. They both always do a really good job for us.” 

The Lady Tigers have played a tough non-region schedule, but their match against Buford was statistically the toughest of them all. Not only is Buford undefeated, but according to the Georgia High School coaches poll, Buford is the No. 3 ranked 6-A team in the state and the No. 10 team overall in the state. 

After spring break, the Lady TIgers (1-13-1) have one final region game against Gilmer County. Though the Lady Tigers have been eliminated from state playoff contention, a win against Gilmer gives the team a fifth place finish in a region that has three of the top five 3-A teams in the state. 

“We’ve definitely turned our eyes towards the Gilmer game,” Hamby said. “The best we can do right now is fifth so that’s gonna be our number one goal right now. It stinks that we didn’t make the playoffs but I think it’s going to show how tough our region was come state playoffs.” 

The game against Gilmer County is April 16 at 5:30 p.m.

The boys team lost 4-0 on Thursday night. The team held Buford to only one goal in the first half but struggled to keep up with Buford’s pace late in the game.

Ian Bliss hit a shot off the crossbar seven minutes into the game. The Tigers were playing without team captain Caleb Bonesteel and freshman starter Dominic LeBlanc in the game. 

The Tigers (0-14-1) play one more non-region game at Sonoraville High School on April 12 before ending their season at home against Gilmer, following the girls game.