By DAVID ERSOFF, Journal Sports
Just as the high school soccer season picks back up and heads toward the finish of the regular schedule, here comes winter.
Weather quite probably will postpone some games scheduled later in the week, pushing teams to reschedule them over the following two weeks.
The first week of 2025 was a slow one in local soccer, so there wasn’t much movement, just one slight change, in the Shreveport-Bossier Journal Boys Coaches Poll for Week 8.
Top-ranked Captain Shreve and No. 4 Byrd traveled south to the EiL Tournament hosted by Teurlings Catholic in Lafayette last weekend. The Gators and Yellow Jackets did not get the results they were surely hoping for with both teams tasting defeat in both matches. Magnet also attended, having a bit more success, losing 3-1 to Episcopal of Baton Rouge and a scoreless tie with Southside.
Shreve started the tournament Friday night with a 3-1 loss to Lafayette. On Saturday the Gators faced Division II Teurlings, currently holding the top spot in its division. The Gators had most of the possession and opportunities; however, they were not able to put the ball in the back of the net. Within the last minutes of the game, Shreve committed a foul in the box resulting in a penalty kick for Teurlings, ending the game 1-0.
The Gators have a light week, hosting Huntington tonight before traveling to Calvary on Saturday.
The Yellow Jackets mirrored the Gators, losing to Teurlings 1-0 on Friday. They faced highly-ranked Catholic of Baton Rouge, falling 3-1. Byrd will be off until next Monday against district foe Airline.
Bossier jumped back into the second spot in the Coaches’ Poll over idle Loyola, despite the Flyers getting a pair of first-place votes. The Bearkats defeated Calvary 5-0 and Evangel 6-0 last week. The Bearkats hosted upstart Minden Tuesday night and dominated 4-0 before traveling to Ouachita Christian on Thursday night.
The Flyers got their 2025 started Tuesday night against Calvary, rolling 6-0. They will also be heading east on Thursday night, visiting Sterlington for a district game.
Benton, Northwood, and Airline followed Loyola’s lead and stood idle New Year’s week, looking to be rested going into the last three weeks of the regular season. The Tigers traveled to Neville Monday night, winning a close one 1-0. They finish the week on Thursday in a district game against Airline. The Falcons blasted visiting North DeSoto 8-0 Tuesday night before traveling to Evangel Thursday. The Vikings hosted Haughton Monday night winning 8-0. Things get tougher Thursday with their battle against Benton.
Week 8 SBJ Coaches Soccer Poll
Rank Team (1st) Record Pts Last week
1 Shreve (8) 11-5-3 67 1
2 Bossier 11-5-1 54 3
3 Loyola (2) 12-1-4 53 2
4 Byrd (1) 9-5-1 43 4
5 Benton 7-8-1 23 5
6 Northwood 7-2-2 19 6
7 Airline 8-1-3 11 7
Also receiving votes — Calvary (4), Magnet (4)
Contact David at dersoff@bellsouth.net