By DAVID ERSOFF, Journal Sports
In the second year of a boys bracket, the Flyer Invitational’s influx of quality teams was impressive last weekend, including Division III state champion University Lab joined by a strong field of visiting teams including Dutchtown, Prairieville, and West Monroe.
On Friday night Loyola took on University, a rematch of last year’s D-III state final. The teams played a back and forth first half that saw no goals by either team. The second half had more of the same, with one exception, a penalty kick by University Lab. The Cubs were able to convert the penalty and escaped with a narrow 1-0 victory.
Saturday morning it was Bossier’s turn to exact some revenge for their semifinal loss to the Cubs in February. U-High came out fast, scoring in the first two minutes followed by another quick goal giving the Cubs an early lead. The Bearkats were able to get past these early mistakes to play the Cubs evenly the rest of the way, with the exception of a penalty called late in the first half. The Cubs converted and ended the scoring there, with the 3-0 victory.
The Flyers began their tournament with a gritty 4-2 win over Captain Shreve on Thursday night. Loyola finished the weekend by facing D-I power Dutchtown. The game ended in a 2-2 tie, only solidifying the Flyers at the top of the Shreveport-Bossier Journal Week 2 coaches’ poll, securing four of the five first-place votes and 23 total points.
The Bearkats only played two games in the Flyer Invitational, as they did in last year’s inaugural boys division. They faced an upstart Prairieville team on Friday night. The game started close, but Bossier put in two goals late in the first half to set the stage for an eventual 5-1 runaway victory. This win solidified the Bearkats’ standing in second place in this week’s poll.
The Flyers and ‘Kats threaten to turn this year’s poll into a two-horse race. However, the Benton Tigers may have something to say about that, having tied Loyola on the first day of the regular season. Benton will get a good test against Bossier on Dec. 2, in what will surely be a heavily attended game.
Benton used that tie and its 2-1 record in the Flyer invitational to jump into the coaches’ poll, ranking third. The Tigers fell 5-3 to West Monroe, mercy-ruled Lafayette Renaissance Charter 11-0, and edging Prairieville in a hard fought 3-2 game Saturday.
Byrd dropped from third to fourth in the coaches’ poll this week. The Jackets did not have the results they were hoping for in the Flyer Invitational. After an opening 1-1 tie with Caddo Magnet, the Yellow Jackets lost two heartbreakers, falling 2-1 to Prairieview and 3-2 to Dutchtown.
Holding their fifth-place spot in the coaches’ poll, the Mustangs used that tie with Byrd to a 2-1-1 record in the tournament. Magnet beat Haughton 4-1, then followed that with an 8-0 mercy rule win over Lafayette Renaissance. The Mustangs ended their weekend with an evenly-fought match with West Monroe, ultimately falling 2-1.
In action Monday night, Calvary fell 2-1 to Ruston and Haughton was doubled up 6-3 in a wild game versus Sterlington.
The only other game looming is the yearly Thanksgiving week game between Bossier and Northwood, scheduled for noon today at Northwood.
There will be no coaches’ poll next week, as there are so few games to evaluate during the holiday week.
The Week 2 SBJ boys soccer coaches’ poll, listing school (W-L-T record) points (first place votes):
1, Loyola (1-1-2), 23 (4)
2, Bossier (1-1-1), 20 (1)
3, Benton (2-1-1), 14
4, Byrd (0-2-1), 10
5, Magnet (2-1-1), 6
Others receiving votes: Shreve (1), Calvary (1).
Contact David at dersoff@bellsouth.net