By DAVID ERSOFF, Journal Sports
Boys teams from Bossier, Captain Shreve and Loyola have big shoes to fill this soccer season, with all three losing key pieces from their strong 2024-25 rosters.
Bearkats head coach Orlando Medelin stepped down after amassing a record of 137-45-20 over eight years. His Bearkats made the playoffs every season and were in the state semifinals the last four years, with a finals appearance in 2023.
Taking over is Gerardo Martinez, who has been the Bearkats assistant coach the past four years, providing a smoother transition than if the new head coach had not been a part of the Bossier program.
The Bearkats also must replace Logan Bamburg, their three-year starter at keeper. Bamburg was solid in goal for his whole career, having never missed a game due to injury. Bamburg was the verbal leader on the field and will be hard to replace.
Captain Shreve has more than two important pairs of shoes to fill this year. The Gators, in fact, have 16 pairs to fill. They graduated 16 seniors from last year’s squad. This includes almost every starter. Coach Greg Palmer will be put to his greatest coaching test, molding his young and inexperienced team into the force that has become synonymous with Gator soccer over the past decade.
While Loyola only has one major set of shoes to fill, it is undoubtedly the single most impactful — goalie Hudson Moore. Moore was far more than just an outstanding goalie, he was the back stop that cleaned up any mistakes made by the young team that Loyola was over the last couple of years. He allowed the Flyers to commit more players forward, knowing he’d be there for any counters. Coach Wes Kyle will need to adjust some of that style while their new goalies get used to the fast-paced play the Flyers employ.
The Flyers start the year atop the first Shreveport-Bossier Journal coaches’ poll.
The season began Monday, with Loyola visiting Benton in an early test for both. This was the Tigers’ first official home game at their new turf field. Loyola took control early, scoring twice in the first half, to go into the break up 2-0. The Tigers were able to fight back in the second half and earned a hard-fought 2-2 tie.
Bossier, No. 2 in the opening poll, began the season Monday night traveling to West Monroe for a Day 1 traditional meeting with the Rebels. This matchup has created very tight and intense games, and this one followed suit, ending in a scoreless tie.
Captain Shreve started the season against Providence Classical Academy Monday night. PCA signaled that it must be taken seriously this year, tying the Gators 3-3, the best result in the program’s young history.
There is no easy start for the top area squads. Strong teams from around the state converge in Shreveport for Loyola’s Flyer Invitational this weekend. Participants include University Lab, Dutchtown, Prairieville and West Monroe. It will provide highly anticipated rematches for Loyola and Bossier against Division III state champion University, Loyola having lost to the Cubs in the finals a week after Bossier fell to them in the semis.
This season the local coaches’ poll will be limited to the top five teams, using a panel of five coaches, representing multiple divisions.
Following their run to the finals last year, the preseason poll located Loyola’s Flyers in the top spot with four of the five first-place votes. Bossier took the remaining first place vote, placing second in the poll.
The preseason SBJ boys soccer poll listing school (W-L-T record), points (first place votes):
1, Loyola (0-0-1), 24 (4)
2, Bossier (0-0-1), 15 (1)
3, Byrd (0-0-0), 12
4, Captain Shreve (0-0-1), 11
5, Caddo Magnet (0-0-0), 7
Others receiving votes: Benton 5, Airline 1.
Contact David at dersoff@bellsouth.net