Orange Beach, Ala. – (OBA) – When it comes down to it, St. Luke’s is actually 2-1 v. Orange Beach in girls soccer this year, but the rivalry goes all the way back to last year’s state tournament. The Area 1 co-champions in Class 4A split their regular-season games this spring and ended up tied for the area title. St. Luke’s got its second win against the Lady Makos on a coin toss to determine who played at home in the first round of the playoffs.

On Wednesday, May 6, the area co-champs will meet again for the rubber match with a chance to play for a state championship on the line. The Lady Makos and Lady Wildcats will square off at 9 a.m. at the state tournament site in Huntsville.

“They were both close games, and it should be a good one,” Orange Beach Coach Chris Leonardi said of St. Luke’s. “We know them, we know their players, and they know ours. They beat us last year and were in the championship game before losing in the final of 4A, so they’ve been there. We’re excited to get up there and see what the state tournament is all about and go with it.”

Orange Beach won 4-2 v. St. Luke’s in Mobile but lost 2-0 at home. Last year, St. Luke’s knocked Orange Beach out of the state tournament with a 4-0 win in the second round before St. Luke’s lost in the 2025 finals to St. John Paul II, 3-1.

This is the Lady Makos' first trip to the state tournament final four site.

“Only four teams left in our division, so we’re excited to be playing,” Leonardi said. “We beat them at their place, and they beat us at our place, so it should be a competitive game as you expect at this level of competition.”

This year, the semifinal winner will take on the winner of Mars Hill Bible v. St. John Paul II, who also play at 9 a.m. on May 6 in Huntsville. The survivors will play for the Class 4A state championship on Friday, May 8. St. John Paul II is back, hoping to defend its title.

“Hopefully we can represent Baldwin County, do something good up there, and bring us back a trophy,” Leonardi said.

St. Michael’s of Fairhope made the Class 5A final four and also plays on Wednesday, May 6, at 1 p.m., with finals set for May 8.