By DAVID ERSOFF, Journal Sports
Local girls soccer teams could not have done any better in the second round of the LHSAA playoffs.
Six schools reached Round 2. Five advanced to the quarterfinals – and the only loss was inevitably a win for another local squad, when No. 7 Byrd edged No. 10 Captain Shreve Thursday night in another renewal of the “Backyard Brawl” rivalry between the schools.
The game was played at Byrd, where there was a standing room-only crowd, with avid fans from both sides eager to see a great match. They did.
This matchup has been a battle over the last 6-7 years, and Thursday’s high-stakes showdown was no exception. Defense dominated the game. There was only one serious threat at goal, and that was Byrd’s game-winner by sophomore Tilley Armstrong, who hit a no-doubter with 15 minutes remaining.
This is not to say that the teams didn’t have chances, just that most went high or wide, or they were what play-by-play announcers would call “comfortable saves.”
Byrd will travel to second-seeded St Joseph’s Catholic in Baton Rouge for a Division I quarterfinal Tuesday at 4.
The other local girls teams moving forward were Benton, Caddo Magnet, Calvary and Loyola. In boys competition, Bossier and Loyola earned quarterfinal berths.
On Tuesday in girls Division II action, third-seeded Magnet hosted No. 19 Archbishop Chapelle at Lee Hedges Stadium. The Lady Mustangs won 8-2, getting six goals from Isabella Baltov and one each by Maeve Morgan and Promise Umoh. Magnet will host sixth-seeded St. Thomas More in the quarterfinals early next week.
In Division IV, the No. 9 Calvary Lady Cavaliers traveled to Alexandria on Tuesday, coming home with the only road win of these playoffs by a local team thus far. They topped No. 8 Grace Christian 2-1. Calvary went up 1-0 in the first half on a penalty kick by Emma Sarkozi, but the game was tied three minutes later on a PK. About midway through the second half, Calvary’s Riley Barnes hit the game-winner. Calvary goes to top-seeded St. Thomas Aquinas on Monday, with a 4 p.m. kickoff.
On Wednesday night, the No. 3 seeded Loyola Lady Flyers won their second-round D-IV game 8-0 over No. 19 Ouachita Christian. Loyola won by the mercy rule just eight minutes into the second half. Loyola will host reigning state champion Isadore Newman Monday at 4 at Messmer Stadium. Newman topped Loyola 7-0 in last year’s final.
In D-I, the fifth-seeded Benton Lady Tigers took control early over No. 12 St, Amant, eventually winning 3-1. Baleigh Ware put the Lady Tigers on top 1-0 in the second minute of play off an assist by Emerie Tanner. St. Amant got the equalizer 10 minutes later, giving the hometown crowd some cause for concern. Those worries only lasted nine minutes, as Tanner got herself on the board, tapping in a rebound from a corner kick.
Just three minutes later Erin Flowers put the last goal on the board, Tanner was credited for her second assist. The Lady Tigers cruised the rest of the way and will host No. 13 Northshore on Monday at 1:30 p.m.
In boys action, Division III’s second-seeded Loyola Flyers cruised to a 3-0 victory over No. 18 Archbishop Shaw on Wednesday. The Flyers got two goals from Graham Kyle and the other from Tomas Miranda. Loyola will host No. 6 Vanderbilt Catholic on Sunday at 5 p.m. at Messmer Stadium.
Bossier, seeded eighth in D-III, edged Morgan City 1-0 Wednesday night in a match detailed in yesterday’s edition. The Bearkats go to face No. 1 University Lab Tuesday at 3:30.
Last year, the Calvary boys went on a magical run into the semifinals, Coach Mark Miller hoped for the same this year. The Cavaliers traveled to the Northshore area to take on second-seeded Northlake Christian and hung tough all the way to the end, not giving up a goal to their opponent. Unfortunately, late in the second half the Cavaliers suffered an own goal and ultimately fell 1-0. This program is gaining respect around the state as one to watch.
The Caddo Magnet Mustangs, seeded 13th in D-II, fell Wednesday to No. 4 Prairieville 7-1, ending a good season for a team that was projected as rebuilding. Hanson Wu scored the Mustangs’ lone goal.
In Monday’s SBJ, look for a report on the Loyola boys game Sunday and a preview of the other quarterfinal matchups for local teams.
Contact David at dersoff@bellsouth.net
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