By DAVID ERSOFF, Journal Sports

Two of the finest girls soccer players locally, Benton’s Karsyn Best and Shreve’s Maddie Penwell, committed last week to play at the collegiate level with Division II programs.

Best is heading to Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, a couple hours up I-30 toward Little Rock. Penwell will have a little longer trip to school, signing with Oklahoma’s Northeastern State University in Tahlequah.

As to the girls competition on the pitch, the No. 1 team in the Shreveport-Bossier Journal coaches poll, Benton, had three dominant victories. Last week began with an 8-0 beatdown of what is normally a strong Neville team. The Lady Tigers then cruised through two games in the Gator Cup, beating West Ouachita 7-0 and Northwood 8-0.

Benton’s only game this week was Tuesday night when they visited fifth-ranked Calvary. The Lady Tigers topped the Lady Cavaliers 3-0, with two goals from Baleigh Ware and one by Eryn Flowers.

Byrd’s Lady Jackets had a successful trip to Thibodaux for the E.D. White Tournament. The Lady Jackets started the tournament with a 2-0 shutout of Dutchtown. Byrd’s only loss was a very competitive 1-0 defeat by reigning Division II state champion St. Scholastica. The ride home for the Lady Jackets was much more festive as they ended the event with a 2-1 win over a strong Northshore squad.

Tilley Armstrong was the MVP of the weekend with both goals against Northshore and an assist to Sally McKenzie in the Dutchtown game. She also started the play that ended up as an own goal for the remaining score of the weekend.

Byrd hosts their yearly game with state power St. Thomas More this Friday and will follow that up with a game against Caddo Magnet at Cargill Park on Saturday.

Loyola’s Lady Flyers were off from competition last week in a strategy coach Mark Matlock has implemented in an effort to reduce the stress on his players to increase their freshness later in the season.

The Lady Flyers host Airline on Thursday before a quality matchup with St. Thomas More on Saturday. Both games will be played at Messmer Stadium.

The Captain Shreve Lady Gators had a busy and successful week, going 4-0 while scoring 19 goals and only giving up one. They topped West Monroe 3-0 and Haughton 8-0 before their two games in the Gator Cup. Shreve beat Live Oak 3-1 and Providence Classical 5-0.

On Monday the Lady Gators routed Huntington 8-0. Shreve gets a break from games until this weekend when they travel south to face Thibodaux and East Ascension.

Caddo Magnet’s Lady Mustangs used a 2-1 victory over Calvary and a wild 8-5 win over Providence Classical last week to jump into a tie for the fifth spot in this week’s SBJ coaches poll.

Magnet has had a busy week thus far, beating Sterlington 5-2 Monday and besting Airline 2-0 Tuesday night. The Lady Mustangs are off until their matchup with Byrd on Saturday.

After Calvary’s close loss to Magnet last week, the Lady Cavaliers went undefeated at the Gator Cup, beating West Ouachita 3-2, Ouachita Parish 2-0 and Sterlington 4-0.

The Lady Cavaliers’ winning streak ended Tuesday night in their loss to Benton. Calvary is off the rest of the week to go cheer their football team in the state finals on Thursday night.

The Week 4 SBJ girls’ soccer coaches poll listing school (W-L-T record) points (first place votes):

1, Benton (8-1-0), 24 (4)

2, Byrd (4-2-2), 20 (1)

T3, Loyola (2-2-1), 12

T3, Captain Shreve (8-0-0), 12

T5, Calvary (6-2-0), 3

T5, Caddo Magnet (5-2-0), 3

Others receiving votes: Parkway (1).

Contact David at dersoff@bellsouth.net