BAY ST. LOUIS &045; The Cathedral Lady Green Wave knew they would have to play the game of their lives in order to defeat the defending state champion Our Lady Academy Lady Crescents in the first round of the Class 1A-2A-3A playoffs.

Even though this is first Lady Green Wave team to make the playoffs in the five-year history of the program, the team did its best despite the fact that Our Lady Academy went on to take an 11-1 win over the Division 7 runners-up Tuesday night.

&uot;It was a learning experience,&uot; Lady Green Wave senior Brittany Funderburg said. &uot;Our goal was to get the playoffs. Everyone was proud to be here.&uot;

Cathedral’s only goal was in the first half by Kalin Kirkwood with an assist from Brittany Laird.

&uot;We were looking to make one goal and that’s exactly what we did,&uot; Funderburg said. &uot;They (OLA) were very sportsmanlike and very talented. That was the best team we’ve ever played in terms of skills and sportsmanship. They passed the ball well and they talked to each other. They stayed in their spots.&uot;

Mercy Cross 6, Cathedral boys 0

BILOXI &045; The Division 8 champion Crusaders got two goals each from Sean Brauchle and Jonathan Lang as they advanced to the second round of the Class 1A-2A-3A playoffs with an impressive win over the Division 7 runners-up Green Wave.

Mercy Cross scored five goals in a 27-minute span in the first half to take a big lead at halftime. Brauchle scored his two goals just 12 minutes apart in the half. Lang scored his first goal of the game at the midway mark of the first half.

Jim Brashier and Weldon Guitierrez also had first-half goals for Mercy Cross.

&uot;These guys were fast,&uot; Green Wave head coach Rick Freeman said. &uot;They had the experience on us. We played aggressively. We played a good game. They were just better than us.

&uot;We had some chances. We got through their defense. We just couldn’t put it in the net. Their goalkeeper made two good saves, one by Blase (Gaud) and one by Cory (Brock). Overall, I thought we played well.&uot;

Lang’s second goal occurred 32 minutes into the second half.

Franklin boys 6, North Forrest 0

BROOKHAVEN &045; Ryan Ratcliff scored three goals for the Division 7 champion Bulldogs, who jumped out to a 4-0 over the Division 8 runners-up Eagles and scored two more goals in the second half in the opening round of the Class 1A-2A-3A playoffs at the Brookhaven Sports Complex.

Coach Anthony Hart said he was very pleased with the way his team played defensively.

&uot;Austin McCormick, Rich Scott, James King and Charlie Wood all did a good job,&uot; Hart said.

Franklin County will take on No. 2 and Division 5 champion Madison St. Joseph, which improved to 15-2-0 with a win over Magee, in a second-round game on Saturday at a time to be determined.