BOYS SOCCER
DERIDDER 4,
SAM HOUSTON 2
DOUBLE OVERTIME

MOSS BLUFF—The DeRidder Dragons (17-8-1, 2-2 5-4A) soccer team is in the playoffs. The Dragons clinched a spot by securing second-place in the 5-4A District as they came from behind Thursday on the road to defeat the Sam Houston Broncos 4-2 in double overtime.

“That clinches second-place in the district,” Dragons head coach David Wilber said. “First and second place teams automatically go.”

“Going to the playoffs it’s always one of our goals every year.”

Wilber said winning the district championship and making the playoffs are two team goals each season.

“District champs got away from us this year, but it’s still good to be going to the playoffs,” Wilber said.

Wilber said the district standings are reported Feb. 2 and the 24 teams who go to the playoffs are ranked. Then the brackets are seeded.

DeRidder out shot Sam Houston 22-5 Thursday night.

“Sam Houston played hard and they were aggressive,” Wilber said.

Wilber said DeRidder made some mistakes when Sam Houston scored, but having possession most of the game was the difference in the Dragons favor.

“We had a good bit of control tonight,” Wilber said.

Sean Austin was DeRidder’s goalie in the first half and had one save and allowed one Broncos goal in the 29th minute. That gave Sam Houston a 1-0 lead.

Michael Miller scored on a penalty kick for DeRidder in the 36th minute to tie the game at 1-1 at halftime.

Micah Prudhomme was DeRidder’s goalie in the second half. He faced three shots and gave up one, which gave the Broncos a 2-1 lead.

Noah Coronel scored for DeRidder in the 66th minute of the game on a Nick Wilkes assist to tie the game at 2-2.

Austin was DeRidder’s goalie in overtime and did not give up any scores.

DeRidder out shot Sam Houston 3-0 in the first overtime, but the Broncos defense did not allow any goals.

Coronel scored a goal unassisted to give DeRidder a 3-2 lead three or four minutes into the second over time. He got a little below midfield and beat the Broncos defender into the goal.

Eric Stevenson scored the next goal on a Walter Floyd assist for DeRidder to give the Dragons a 4-2 lead.

“I thought Sam Houston played very well much improved time even from the first time we played them,” Wilber said. “We had to work to get a win at the game.”

Alvais Coronel and Levi Martinez were at the BETA convention and did not play for DeRidder.

However, Wilber said Stevenson, Floyd and Thomas Broussard stepped in and played well.

Miller and Jace Morien were ejected for DeRidder Thursday and will be unavailable Saturday.

The Dragons are back in action at 10 a.m. Saturday when they host Barbe.