By DAVID ERSOFF, Journal Sports
As 2026 begins this weekend, several local girls soccer teams will line up against top flight competition and the games played in Louisiana could have major postseason implications in the LHSAA’s power rankings system that determines playoff bracket seedings.
The Benton Lady Tigers have the highest power ranking in the Shreveport-Bossier area — including all the boys teams. Benton is ranked fourth in Division I and their PR is a sky-high 10.36. The Lady Tigers deservedly sit atop the Shreveport-Bossier Journal coaches poll, which has no impact on the power rankings.
Captain Shreve is just behind Benton with a 10.29 PR, good for the state’s No. 5 seed at the moment. The Lady Gators played the final game of 2025 for local girls team, when they traveled to Texas, defeating Lufkin 2-0 on Tuesday. Out-of-state games do not figure into the LHSAA power rankings.
There are three other local D-I teams that are currently inside the top 32, the magic number as that’s how many make the postseason. Byrd is in 12th position with a PR of 8.66. Haughton is 25th with a 6.74 PR, and Airline stands 27th owning a 6.35 PR.
Caddo Magnet is the highest ranked squad in D-II. The Lady Mustangs occupy the No. 6 spot with a PR of 8.31. Parkway is not far behind, holding the 10th position due to a 7.69 PR.
Northwood has been playing well lately and is the 19th-ranked team carrying a 6.40 PR. The final local D-II team in the top 32 is North DeSoto with a 5.81 PR, good for 26th.
The only D-III school in the postseason mix in Shreveport-Bossier is Bossier, standing 28th with a 3.89 PR.
There are three local Division IV schools in the top 32 rankings, at the moment, and the last one is a surprise. Calvary is tops with 8.05 PR and stands fifth. Loyola is in the 8th spot and has a PR of 7.63.
The surprise is the local team standing 20th — North Caddo. Nothing makes this area better as a whole, then when teams that have traditionally struggled in a sport begin to develop and start winning games. The Lady Titans are currently 4-2-1 and have a 6.09 PR.
These seedings and power rankings will change daily until the end of the regular season. These midseason looks begin to paint a picture of each team’s season. Coaches who like their path can stay on it, while coaches not as pleased have enough time to make adjustments and get their teams ready for the upcoming postseason.
For insight on the LHSAA’s power rankings system for soccer, search for Tuesday’s boys report titled “Midseason power rankings” explaining how the points stack up.
Local schools kick off the New Year strongly this weekend, with Benton, Caddo Magnet and Loyola heading to Lafayette to compete in the EIL tournament, hosted by Teurlings Catholic. The schedule has yet to be announced.
The Lady Gators keep up their traveling this weekend, with their yearly trip to Mississippi where they will face traditional powers DeSoto High and St. Patrick.
Not to be outdone on the travel, Byrd is heading west to Arlington for the program’s annual Texas tournament. The Lady Jackets are scheduled to play E.D. Bell, Arlington and South Grand Prairie.
The only other local school in action this weekend is North DeSoto. The Lady Griffins are scheduled to face Denham Springs and West Monroe Saturday at Rebel Stadium in West Monroe.
Contact David at dersoff@bellsouth.net