By DAVID ERSOFF, Journal Sports
Eleven local boys soccer teams entered this year’s LHSAA playoffs last week and five remain alive heading into second-round action, including the top four teams in the Shreveport-Bossier Journal Coaches Poll. The only team outside the poll to advance is Calvary Baptist Academy.
Captain Shreve, Bossier and Loyola all have homefield advantage Wednesday in the second round. Calvary Baptist gets the local action started today with a trip east on I-20 to Monroe. Byrd has a much longer road trip, down to metropolitan New Orleans for a Thursday contest.
Division I No. 7 Captain Shreve (18-5-4) easily took care of No. 26 Woodlawn of Baton Rouge (10-7-1) 6-1 in a first-round game last Friday. The Gators will face a stiffer challenge when No. 10 Brother Martin (15-4-5) comes to Shreveport. The game is Wednesday afternoon at 5 at Lee Hedges Stadium.
Division I No. 15 Byrd (13-5-3) had a battle on its hands against No. 18 H.L. Bourgeois (12-7-4), eventually coming out on top 3-2. The road gets even bumpier for the Yellow Jackets as they travel to Metairie and John Ryan Stadium to take on the undefeated No. 2 seed, last year’s Division I state champion Jesuit (17-0-1). The contest is Thursday evening at 6.
Division III top seed Loyola (17-2-6) cruised to a 10-0 victory over No. 32 Washington-Marion (2-16-2) to advance into Round 2. The Flyers host No. 17 Livingston Collegiate (7-8-2) at 4 Wednesday afternoon at Messmer Stadium.
Division III No. 3 Bossier (16-6-2) also coasted in a first-round win 8-0 over No. 30 Buckeye (3-15-2). The Bearkats host No. 14 Parkview Baptist (12-6-2) Wednesday evening at 6.
Division IV No. 13 Calvary (13-10-1) was able to hold off upstart No. 20 Lycee Francais de la Nouvelle Orleans (12-4-1), winning a nailbiter 3-2 last Friday. The Cavaliers will need all their focus tonight when they travel to No. 4 Ouachita Christian (14-1-4), kicking off in Monroe at 5:30. These teams played to a 1-1 draw Jan. 20.
Six local teams ended their seasons in the opening round of the LHSAA playoff brackets:
D-I – No. 20 Benton (11-12-1) lost 5-0 to No.13 Lafayette (10-7-8);
D-I – No. 23 Airline (10-6-3) fell 2-0 to No. 10 Brother Martin (15-4-5);
D-II – No. 16 Northwood (11-3-3) was upset 4-1 by No. 17 Riverdale (13-6);
D-II – No. 23 Caddo Magnet (6-11-5) lost 4-0 against No. 10 Archbishop Rummel (15-8-4);
D-II – No. 27 Parkway (5-12-2) lost 8-0 to No. 6 Pineville (16-1-2);
D-IV – No. 23 Evangel (6-16-1) lost 4-1 to No. 10 Sarah T. Reed (14-6-3).
Contact David at dersoff@bellsouth.net