LAGRANGE – LaGrange High’s soccer teams will look to take a big step toward securing a spot in the state playoffs when they visit Shaw today.

Both LaGrange teams are 1-2 in Region 1-AAAAA, and they’re coming off wins over Harris County on March 16 in their most recent region games.

If LaGrange’s teams could come away with road wins tonight, it would go a long way toward securing one of the region’s four spots in the state playoffs.

The girls’ game begins at 5:30 p.m., with the boys’ game to follow at 7:30 p.m.

Both LaGrange teams were winless in the region before beating Harris County at home.

The Grangers did it in dramatic fashion, with Yeison Diaz scoring with seven minutes remaining in the game to lift his team to a 2-1 victory.

“Our guys knew that the season was on the line for us,” LaGrange head coach Keita Placide said. “We needed this game.”

Matthew Thomas scored early in the game on a throw-in, and the Grangers held that 1-0 lead until the Tigers scored with 14 minutes to play.

LaGrange answered with the go-ahead goal seven minutes later, and Harris County was unable to produce the tying goal.

Thomas, a senior leader for the Grangers, knew how big that game was.

“It was either win or go home,” Thomas said. “And that was our mentality coming into this game.”

The Lady Grangers didn’t need any late-game dramatics to get the win.

Reagan Peters scored five goals to lead LaGrange to a 6-0 win over Harris County.

“It was definitely a relief,” Peters said of getting the breakthrough region win. “It was really reassuring to know we’re closer to a playoff spot. It’s really helpful to get the win.”

Including today’s games, LaGrange’s teams have three region games remaining as they look to chase down a playoff spot.

Troup’s soccer teams continued their Region 5-AAAA schedules with road losses to Woodward Academy on Monday.

While the Lady Tigers are 0-3 in the region, the Tigers are 1-2.

The Tigers dropped their region opener to Carrollton before getting a 2-0 road win over the Sandy Creek Patriots.

Hoping to move above .500 in the region, Troup instead lost to Woodward Academy 10-0 on Monday, and it followed that up with a 5-1 non-region loss to Shaw on Wednesday.

Troup now faces what head coach Jase Crenshaw considers a must-win game on Wednesday at home against Fayette County.

Troup’s teams wrap up their region schedules with road games against Whitewater on April 15.

Callaway’s teams will take a break from region play when they host Brookstone today, with the girls’ game starting at 5:30 p.m., and the boys’ game to follow.

The Cavaliers evened their Region 5-AAA record at 3-3 with Wednesday’s 9-0 home win over Haralson County, and the Lady Cavaliers are 4-2 in the region.

Callaway’s teams continue their region schedules on Monday at Cedartown.

Reach Kevin Eckleberry at (706) 884-7311 or on Twitter @lagrangesports