By DAVID ERSOFF, Journal Sports
The holiday season is over and offered significant competition by local girls soccer teams, with some of the best taking advantage of days out of school to travel south for high-level competition, getting mixed results.
Byrd and North DeSoto went to the Northshore last weekend, entering different tournaments, the Lady Jackets in the Lakeshore tournament and the Lady Griffins in the Mandeville tournament. Ironically, they stayed in the same hotel in Covington.
Captain Shreve spent the weekend before Christmas in Baton Rouge for a couple non-district games. All three teams took home some success and some things to improve on from their travels.
The Lady Jackets faced two of the strongest teams in the state in the Lakeshore tournament. They had a rematch with St. Thomas More, who they tied 1-1 back in early November, but this time the Lady Cougars prevailed 3-1. The task got no easier when Byrd faced Division I’s second-highest rated team, St. Joseph’s. The Lady Jackets fought hard but eventually fell 2-1. All the frustration of those games were focused on East Jefferson, and the Lady Jackets won running away, 8-0.
Byrd takes its yearly trip west to Arlington this weekend, to play Lamar, Arlington and South Grand Prairie. Out of state games do not count towards team records or power rankings but they are excellent tests.
The Lady Griffins’ trip to Mandeville was the first time in program history they have ventured that far outside their comfort zone, meeting unfamiliar opponents. Friday North DeSoto faced Kenner Discovery Health Science, winning 4-2. On Saturday they squared off against the host Mandeville team, a perennial top eight Division I team. The Lady Griffins showed well, only falling 3-1. The tournament ended on a high note for North DeSoto, beating a solid Baton Rouge team 2-0 in a muddy, rain-soaked game.
The weekend before Christmas the Lady Griffins hosted Episcopal of Baton Rouge, losing 3-0, and Ursuline Academy, winning 5-0. North DeSoto takes a day trip to Monroe to face Sterlington on Saturday.
Captain Shreve went south the weekend before Christmas and fell to University Lab 3-1, then salvaged their trip by beating Zachary 3-2. On Monday the Lady Gators drove to Texas to face Celina, falling 8-0 to the Texas powerhouse. The Lady Gators continue their travels for two games in Mississippi, facing St. Martin and St. Patrick this weekend.
Benton continued its undefeated season, when the Lady Tigers beat Ursuline 9-1 and Episcopal 4-2 just before Christmas. The Lady Tigers will be put to the test this weekend at the EiL tournament hosted by Teurlings Catholic. They will meet last year’s Division I state champion St. Scholastica, last year’s Division II state runner-up in Ben Franklin and a solid Southside team.
Loyola will also be traveling to the EiL tournament, and should be well rested, having had two weeks off. The Lady Flyers are scheduled to play Catholic of New Iberia, Southside and Ascension Episcopal starting Friday.
Calvary moved into the No. 5 spot in this week’s coaches poll after posting a 4-1 victory over North DeSoto on Dec. 17. The Lady Cavaliers host Sterlington tonight, before facing Loyola next Tuesday, which will surely be for the Division IV District I title.
Airline’s Lady Vikings held onto the last spot in the coaches poll despite an unusually close 1-0 win over Haughton and a 5-0 loss to Loyola before Christmas. They are off until their district battle with Benton next Tuesday.
Shreveport Bossier Journal Girls Soccer Coaches Poll
Rank Team (1st) Record Pts Last poll
1 Benton (8) 14-0-1 67 1
2 Byrd (2) 8-3-3 62 2
3 Shreve 9-3-2 48 3
4 Loyola 9-3-2 42 4
5 Calvary 7-3-3 26 6
6 North Desoto 9-6-2 23 5
7 Airline 7-3-0 5 7
Also receiving votes — Parkway (4), Caddo Magnet (3)