By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

With their region championships in the bag, LaGrange High’s soccer teams traveled across the state line to take on Opelika on Monday.

In two hard-fought games, LaGrange’s boys’ team fell to Opelika 3-2, while the girls’ game ended in a 2-2 tie.

In the boys’ game, the Grangers were hoping to add to a winning streak that had reached nine games.

Six of those wins came against Region 5-AAAA opponents, including Friday’s showdown with Sandy Creek.

LaGrange won that game 4-1 to win the region title with a 6-0 record.

The short-handed Grangers (11-3-2), who were without two starters, hung tough on Monday, but it was the Bulldogs escaping with the win.

Opelika had a 2-0 lead in the first half, and LaGrange rallied to pull even in the second half.

Midway through the second half, the Bulldogs notched the go-ahead goal, and the Grangers were unable to answer.

Johnny McDonald and Josue Recinos each had a goal and an assist for LaGrange.

In the girls’ game, Malone Aldridge and Caroline Thompson scored for LaGrange.

LaGrange has won three consecutive Region 5-AAAA championships, and it is 18-0 against region opponents during that stretch.

LaGrange will host Auburn on Wednesday before closing the regular season at Smiths Station on Thursday.

Both LaGrange teams will host a first-round game in the state tournament next week.