COPPELL, Texas -- The much-anticipated Loyola (Calif.) and Marcus (Texas) boys soccer match will take place Saturday, just not in the expected spot.

FAB 50 No. 1 Loyola and No. 5 Marcus were both upset in the North Texas Elite Showcase Red Division semifinals Friday, placing the teams in the third-place match. Meanwhile, Downey (Calif.), behind another strong performance from keeper Oliver Juarez, and explosive and FAB 50 No. 20-ranked Central Catholic (Texas) will play for the division title. St. Paul's (La.) and Cathedral (Calif.) will square off in the Black Division final.

Basically, visitors ruled the day in Friday's NTXES results. Five out-of-state teams were part of the top two eight-team divisions, and three will be playing for championships Saturday. Not a single Dallas-Fort Worth-area team made the final as the fourth championship spot was earned by a San Antonio program.

Nearby, the National Elite Prep Showcase for girls soccer continued Friday and FAB 50 No. 3 Southlake Carroll (Texas) continued its offensive assault. A day after winning 5-0, the Dragons delivered a 5-0 morning win over Lake Travis (Texas) and a 9-0 nightcap victory over Fort Bend Clements (Texas). Southlake Carroll and Plano West (Texas) are the only 3-0 teams entering Saturday's action, which is the final day for the 28-team event. Nolan Catholic (Texas) and [Coronado tx-w] (Texas) are both 2-0 and square off Saturday.

The boys featured matches Friday were the Black Division semifinals, which had three FAB 50-ranked teams and a regionally ranked Texas squad. Both games came down to the final minute. Conner Walmsley, one of the last holdovers from St. Paul's recent dominating run, converted a second-half penalty kick as the FAB 50 No. 29-ranked Louisiana power squeezed out a 1-0 over No. 25 Coppell (Texas). No. 10 Cathedral (Calif.) held off a late flurry from [San Antonio Lee tx-m] (Texas) for a 2-1 victory.

FRIDAY STANDOUTS

NTXES

GK Oliver Juarez, Downey (Calif.), Sr.: Juarez posted his second shutout at the event and Downey is now playing for a title. Downey built an ambitious schedule, hosting its own major showcase, then traveling to Arizona for the AZ Showcase and to Texas for NTXES. Downey reached the semifinals at the AZ Showcase and now has done one better in Texas.

GK Adrian Munoz Cathedral (Calif.), Sr.: Munoz came up with a dazzling save while Cathedral was ahead 2-0. That play proved pivotal as the Phantoms held on for a 2-1 victory.

F Jose Ortiz, Sam Houston (Texas), Jr.: What else can be said about this player? For the second straight day Ortiz delivered a four-goal performance. For good measure, he assisted on the team's other goal. In two matches, he has factored in every Sam Houston goal, scoring eight and assisting on one.

M Conner Walmsley, St. Paul's (La.), Sr.: One of only three returning starters for St. Paul's, he calmly converted a pressure-packed PK to lift the Wolves to a 1-0 victory.  

NEPS

F Kylie Fournier, Rouse (Texas), Jr.: This recent Development Academy player scored three goals to start Rouse's comfortable victory Friday.

M Ellie Lemaster, Plano West (Texas), Jr.: Lemaster is a defender for Solar on the club scene, but is making a name for herself in high on the offensive end. Lemaster scored both goals in Plano West's 2-1 win over previously undefeated Odessa. The junior also had an assist in Plano West's other Froday match.

F Jaida Thomas, Bishop Lynch (Texas), Jr.: The West Virginia commit netted four goals as Bishop Lynch bounced back from a Thursday loss with a Friday victory.

F Taylor Tufts, Southlake Carroll (Texas), Sr.: The Oklahoma signee had two goals and four assists Saturday while playing sparingly in Carroll's two victories. In the win over Fort Bend Clements, Tufts, usually a scorer, assisted the first three goals before scoring one for herself. 

M Olivia Zeldin, Steele Canyon (Calif.), Sr.: Zeldin delivered two goals and two assists during Steel Canyon's one-sided win over St. Stephen's. 

RESULTS

North Texas Elite Showcase

Red Division

FAB 50 No. 20 Central Catholic (Texas) 2, FAB 50 No. 1 Loyola (Calif.) 1. Goals: CC -- n/a; L -- Henry Smith-Hastie.

Downey (Calif.) 1, FAB 50 No. 5 Marcus (Texas) 0. Goal: D -- Justin Covarrubias (Alejandro Galvan).  

FAB 50 No. 23 Sam Houston (Texas) 5,  Lake Travis (Texas) 2. Goals: SH -- Jose Ortiz 4, Oscar Garcia; LT -- n/a.

Jackson Prep (Miss.) 3, Naaman Forest (Texas) 1. Goals: JP -- Cam Carroll 2, John-Mark Rose; NF -- n/a.

Black Division

FAB 50 No. 29 St. Paul's (La.) 1, FAB 50 No. 25 Coppell (Texas) 0. Goal: SP -- Conner Walmsley. 

FAB 50 No. 10 Cathedral (Calif.) 2, [San Antonio Lee tx-m] (Texas) 1. Goals: C -- Joseph Parra (Dylan Robinson), Diego Vazquez. SAL -- Andrew Erickson. 

FAB 50 No. 3 Grand Prairie (Texas) 2, McKinney Boyd (Texas) 1. Goals: GP -- Luis Obregon, Baltazar Jimenez; MB -- Roberto Gonzalez. 

San Angelo Central (Texas) 2, Colleyville Heritage (Texas) 0. Goals: SAC -- Braydon Hill, Juan Rodriguez (Dylan Caudle). 

White Division

Timber Creek (Texas) 2, Round Rock (Texas) 1. Goals: TC -- Fernando Miranda, Kayden Gomez; RR -- n/a.

Mansfield Lake Ridge (Texas) 2, Abilene (Texas) 2. Goals: MLR -- Caleb Allen 2; A -- Abram Estrada, Andres Munoz.

W.T. White (Texas) 1, Rockwall-Heath (Texas) 0. Goal: WTW -- Jorge Gonzalez. 

Amarillo (Texas) 3, South Grand Prairie (Texas) 1. Goals: A -- Alek Olivas, Elmer Castro, Dawson Frye; SGP -- Christian Vasquez.

Plano Senior (Texas) 3, Bridgeport (Texas) 1. Goals: P -- Jackson Booth 2, Jack Bender. B -- Jonathan Juarez. 

Lewisville (Texas) 3, Midland (Texas) 0. 

 

National Elite Prep Showcase