The Andalusia Bulldogs soccer team finished perfect in area play after defeating the Thomasville Tigers 4-3 Tuesday night in Andalusia.

“As a fifth year player, it’s truly remarkable to be area champions twice,” senior Cole Bush said. “This program has a bright future, but playoffs is what truly matters.”

The Bulldogs took an early lead in the opening half when Kiki Wain scored on a penalty kick.

A little later in the first half, Thomasville tied the game with header off a corner kick.

The score was one of the few shots on the goal that the Bulldogs allowed Thomasville to take in the opening half.

Andalusia continued to work the ball into Tiger territory on regular basis.

Zack Woods made a nice play with his back to the net, as he flipped the ball over his head between two defenders, turned, regained possession of the ball and fired a shot at the goal. However, the shot just missed its target.

The Bulldogs regained the lead a few minutes later when Taylor Rhudy fired a shot through a crowd of players. The ball headed towards the goal and the Thomasville goalkeeper advanced to meet the ball before it crossed the line, but the ball clipped another Thomasville player sending the ball out of the reach of the goalkeeper as it crossed the line to the back of the net.

Andalusia’s speed and constant pressure continued to limit the chances that Thomasville had.

Andalusia went up 3-1 just before the first half ended on a goal from Zian Bullard.

Wain drove into the box and passed to Bullard for an easy chip in.

At the start of the second half, the Bulldogs nearly added another goal early, but a great save kept the score at 3-1.

The Bulldogs sent a corner kick flying in and Adam Peek soared up and sent a header towards the goal, but the Thomasville goalkeeper went up and made a one-handed save.

Thomasville then answered with a goal to make it 3-2.

A few minutes later, Anna Brady passed to Wain Yongkuma in the box to setup a goal. Yongkuma took the pass fought through two defenders, twice, before punching it by the goalie to put Andalusia up 4-2.

Thomasville got a late goal, but the Bulldogs held off the Tigers over the final 10 minutes for 4-3 victory.

“Very proud to be the undefeated area champions,” Andalusia head coach Tim Ramsden said. “It’s just a very proud moment for me. All-in-all, it’s a big achievement to got undefeated in area. I’m really proud of this squad. We have got to stop some of the stupid mistakes on defense. We just don’t do the things off the ball like we should.”

Ramsden said that players that stood out in Tuesday’s win where Woods, Rhudy, Peek and Brady.

Ramsden said that while he was extremely proud of his players for their efforts this season, there are still things they have to improve on.

“Most of our mistakes our mental right now,” Ramsden said. “We’ve got to get keep our focus and not make the stupid mistakes that led to goals for the other team.”

Andalusia will host a sub-state playoff game on April 30 for the opening round of the AHSAA Class 4A-5A soccer playoffs.