5/11 Game of the Day: Briarcrest at MUS

[d2asoccer]

Depending on which Briarcrest team shows up, this could be a good one. MUS should win but you never know.

[loveusasoccer]

This could be a really good game. Briarcrest has a chance to finish first in the region for the first time ever and MUS is on a roll. MUS has a really solid team with great size around the field. Things have fallen into place for them this year, with the exception of all their ties. (playing MUS without Banks and Gardea in their first meeting at MUS and then getting to play CBHS again at MUS because of CBHS's field being unplayable).

No matter the outcome of this game, this has to be one of Briarcrest's best season's ever. They have wins over the likes of CBHS, MUS, Germantown, Collierville, Houston, Kingsbury(scrimmage), USJ, and a tie with Independence among others. They have also played an unreasonably tough schedule for a team without much depth. Especially considering the fact that their coach chooses and almost has to sit players that have any kind of injury to save them for region games. Smart move, but tough on the other players.

I think Coach Beck has done a great job working with his talent as well. Early in the season, he gave all his upperclassmen their chance to shine. Most took advantage of the situation, but he has slowly weeded the under preforming players off the field and given some of the younger more, talented players their shot. These players have responded and the team is playing really well. In the last couple weeks they have wins over, Collierville, MBA, and CBHS. Coach Beck seems to always be willing to move players around until he finds the right combination.

[d2asoccer]

Briarcrest 1, MUS 1. Good result for Briarcrest heading into the playoffs.

[loveusasoccer]

Pretty good game. Game was scoreless after the first half. Briarcrest scored off a really nice free kick by Zach Ballard that was just out of reach from the MUS keeper and then finished by Nathan West on the far side of the goal with a one touch shot. They held the lead until the final 6 seconds, when MUS knotted the score off an equally as nice corner kick by Colin Lourens and a beautiful header by Matt Baker, just out of the reach of the Briarcrest keeper.

Both teams get well deserved byes in the first round and a little time to rest and study for finals before their next games.

State play-offs could be really interesting. Father Ryan has wins over BCHS and a tie with CBHS, but they lost to MBA and McCallie. MUS has beaten MBA and CBHS, but lost and tied Briarcrest. Briarcrest has beaten a lot of really good teams this year and has really battled in all but their Father Ryan game ( 1st game of the season) and their 2nd CBHS game. Of course, even that game was scoreless until the 20 minute mark in the second half. Then again, BCHS also lost to ST. Benedict. MUS has been in each and every game and only has 1 loss on the season, along with something like 8 ties. CBHS started slowly, but I think they are hitting their stride at the right time, but MUS has had their number this year and they are on the same side of the bracket. Should be fun.