Soccer teams in spotlight
By Staff
Todd Thompson, Hartselle Enquirer
Three local high school soccer teams continue to enjoy some early accolades this spring, especially the varsity teams at Brewer.
Brewer’s boys’ and girls’ teams are both ranked 10th in the state in the latest Alabama High School Athletic Association’s prep soccer poll.
The season’s second poll, released last week, has the Patriots holding onto the final spots in the rankings.
Hartselle’s boys’ team had five votes in the latest poll and tied for 13th with Sylacauga in the Class 5A poll.
The Patriots will have a chance to make a big jump in the poll in the next two weeks with key matchups against top teams in the state.
Brewer will play at Cullman Friday against the sixth-ranked Bearcats.
The road game against Cullman is the first of four straight games away from Brewer in the next 17 days.
Brewer is fresh off a 6-0 trouncing of Guntersville last week that gave the Patriots a 2-0 start to the season.
The Lady Patriots will also be tested by some strong competition in the next three weeks. Brewer plays at Arab - a team that received votes in the latest rankings - next week in a game that is part of a five-game road swing.
And further down the schedule, Brewer’s girls will take on No. 8 Athens March 27th in Florette.
Hartselle’s boys will also have some challenging dates ahead on the schedule, including a March 10 battle at Albertville.
The Aggies are currently ranked fourth in the state in Class 5A.
Hartselle and Brewer will square off twice in the next month, meeting in Hartselle March 17th before facing again at Brewer March 25th.
Hartselle will face Lee Friday to open a stretch where the Tigers will play four matches in a seven-day span.
Priceville and Danville have also enjoyed some success this year and both could push to climb into the rankings with a couple of wins in key matchups in the next couple of weeks.
The Bulldogs beat Sheffield and Covenant Christian last week.
The next month will be crucial for teams leading up to the 2008 Morgan County Soccer Tournament at Jack Allen Park in Decatur April 10-12.
Decatur’s boys and girls teams should go into the tournament as the top seeds. Both of the Red Raider teams are ranked second in the state.
Sports editor Todd Thompson can be reached at 773-6566 or by email at todd.thompson@hartselleenquirer.com
