By DAVID ERSOFF, Journal Sports
The Division I sixth-ranked Byrd Lady Jackets rode two second half goals to top Division I ninth-ranked Lafayette 2-0 at Holy Savior Menard High School in Alexandria Wednesday night.
The Jackets’ goals were scored by Landry Jones and Chloe Miller with assists provided by Ellie Lawrence and Jones. Emerson Roberts had four saves in goal to produce the shutout.
The field was very narrow and had a high crown. With the rain from Monday, the edges of the field were very mushy and produced a completely different playing surface then the middle of the field.
As both teams are used to utilizing the wider parts of the field, it took the whole first half for both teams to get into a rhythm. There were no serious threats to either goal in the half.
When the second half began, it was obvious that Byrd coach Lisa Levermann had restructured the Lady Jackets’ attack, as they held possession in Lafayette’s end of the field from the get go.
In the 18th minute of the second half Lawrence put a through ball right at the feet of a charging Jones, who calmly finished it in the net past the keeper.
Ten minutes later, Jones centered the ball right to Miller, who chipped it in over the keeper.
The rest of the game Lafayette slowly got its bearings and began attacking with numbers. Byrd’s center defenders Skylar Burke and Centenary signee Katie Smith, were able to repel all of Lafayette’s advances. It wasn’t until the last three minutes when All-State keeper Roberts was pressed to make two solid saves to preserve the clean sheet.
In other early week action:
Parkway beat North Caddo 8-0 Tuesday as coach Shelley McMillian notched her 700th varsity win. Maya Jackson recorded her 110th career goal in the game.
Byrd escaped with a 1-0 victory over Airline. A first-half goal by Ainsley Davis, assisted by Landry Jones, turned out to be the only score. Roberts recorded two saves. The bright spot for Airline was keeper Catherine Webber, who recorded 14 saves and kept Airline in the game.
Captain Shreve went 2-0 with wins over Southwood (8-0) and Natchitoches Central (8-0). Goals were scored by Maddie Aubrey (4), Reagan Titus (2), Alex Knight (2), Emily Moffett (2), Emma Bradford (2), Ella Grace Davis, Brooklyn Lattier, Kiley Rourke and Grace Schneider. Assists were handed out by Bradford (3), Aubrey (2), Moffett (3), Knight and Bryleigh Burlison.
Loyola beat Sterlington 2-0 with goals from Caroline Henry and Kennedy Jarrett, who is now at 91 career goals. Assists came from Madalyn VanDevander and Maggie Googe.
Calvary beat Minden 3-1. Goals came by Jaedan Lee, Carson Davis and Ava Colvin. Assists came from Maggie Moore, Davis and Colvin. Keeper Peyton Lewis had five saves.
Other results so far this week included North Desoto 5, Bossier 0; Benton 3, Haughton 0; Northwood 1, Huntington 0; North DeSoto 8 North Caddo 0.
Shelley McMillian soft, but inspirational on verge of landmark 700th win
Photo by DAVID ERSOFF
