Orange Beach, Ala. – (OBA) – For a better part of the 2026 high school soccer season, the Orange Beach Lady Makos soccer team was ranked as the state’s No. 1 in Class 4A. But just as the state playoffs begin, the Lady Makos find themselves at No. 2 in the rankings behind area rival St. Luke’s at No. 1.

“I don’t know much about the rankings,” Orange Beach Coach Chris Leonardi said.

Maybe even a coin toss had something to do with it? St. Luke’s and Orange Beach tied for the area championship after the season was over. The teams had identical records in area competition and had split 1-1 against each other during the season.

The tie at the top of the area standings had to be settled by a coin flip to determine which of the co-champs would be a home team in the playoffs. St. Luke’s won, and now the two are switched: Orange Beach drops to No. 2, and St. Luke’s takes over the top spot.

“Obviously, both of us can’t host, so one of us had to go on the road,” Leonardi said. “Someone had to travel, and that’s us. That’s why they call it a coin flip.”

With the coin flip loss, Orange Beach now faces about a three-hour trip to New Brockton for the first round on April 28 at 5:30 p.m., while St. Luke’s will be at home against Geneva.

Leonardi pointed to three players who have stood out during the team’s run to the playoffs while citing an overall effort from a core group of players ranging from seventh graders to seniors.

“Our top scorer is Gabi Ausmuth, but we’ve had a lot of good girls out there that are doing well,” Leonardi said. “Kinley Webb has been a force as well. Laynie Redmond has been strong as well. It’s a cliché, but we have a good group of girls, and we are looking forward to the playoffs starting on Tuesday and hopefully moving on.”

Orange Beach is hoping to turn the momentum of the successful season into a historic run for the girls' soccer program.

“They’ve always lost in the second round so we want to pass that hurdle of the second round and go to the final four,” Leonardi said.

Leonardi isn’t sure if Orange Beach will travel or be a host team for the second round with a first-round win but that game will be April 30 at 7 p.m. against the St. James and American Christian winner. With a win, St. Luke’s would face the Westminster Christian at Oak Mountain v. Montgomery Academy winner, also April 30 at 7 p.m.

If the area rivals win two games each to start the playoffs, they will face off in the Class 4A semifinals in Huntsville on May 6.

Orange Beach Lady's Soccer 2026 - Photo by Shelley Patterson, C-Shelz Photography