Griffins ride tough defense, Reid’s goal to 1-0 victory
GEISMAR — Dutchtown senior forward Ryan Reid broke free for a first-half goal and the Griffins’ defense stepped up for its eighth shutout Saturday night.
That combination powered Dutchtown to a 1-0 victory over Sam Houston in a Division I bidistrict boys soccer playoff match.
Eleventh-seeded Dutchtown (10-8-6) advances to a regional match next week at sixth-seeded Catholic High, which defeated Natchitoches Central 7-0 on Friday. Sam Houston finishes 10-8-3.
With Reid stationed around the midfield line, Dutchtown’s Justin Rogers assisted with a long ball. Reid won the sprint race, controlled the ball and scored from 10 feet away at the 21-minute mark. It was Reid’s team-high 10th goal of the season. A University of Maryland signee, Reid ranks second in career goals and third in career assists for the Griffins.
“I like Ryan Reid’s chances of getting to the ball when he’s dead even with somebody,” Dutchtown coach Larry Chambless said. “Their defense was pushed up, inviting us to play a long ball. Reid got to it, then he composed himself and put it in. It was a good goal.”
“Reid is a great player, and we were trying to keep him contained,” Sam Houston coach Kirt Farquhar said. “Great players sometimes get loose and that was what he did. My kids played hard. It was a clean game by both teams. This was our first trip to the playoffs in a long time.
“Dutchtown’s defense is really solid and didn’t give us many good looks.”
Dutchtown keeper Adam Pittman had four saves and started the offense several times with his booming kickoffs that Reid, Colby Soileau and others controlled.
“Adam does a lot for us in goal,” Chambless said. “He’s very accurate on his kickoffs.”
Dutchtown’s Christian Presley had a 20-yard shot that hit the top post and bounced out. Sam Houston goalkeeper Zach Thibodeaux finished with eight saves.
“You always like another goal said,” Chambless said. “This has been a strange year; we’re a defensive team with the majority of the games decided by one goal.”
Dutchtown advanced to the Division I semifinals last year. The Griffins lost their last three district games going into the playoffs, but set the tone early with aggressive play.
Defender Tyler Sarrazin, a junior, made a nice deep run one time. Dutchtown played a flat four defense in the back that helped them adjust to different situations.
Catholic beat Dutchtown 2-0 and 2-1 this season.
“Catholic has a great squad,” Chambless said. “It should be an exciting rematch. We’ll go at it a third time and see what happens.”
RUNNELS 3, BOSSIER 1: Sterling Tiras scored two goals, leading Runnels to a Division III bidistrict playoff victory Friday night.
Zack Brocato scored the other goal for the Raiders (11-0), who also got seven saves from goalkeeper David Segalla.
Robin Fambrough contributed to his report