Lions, Lady Lions in second round of soccer playoffs on Tuesday
March 22, 2009

By DAVID CLAYBOURN
Herald-Banner Staff

GREENVILLE -- Both the Greenville Lions and Lady Lions will step up to the second round of the soccer playoffs with area matches on Tuesday night.

The Lions, who were champions of District 20-4A with an 8-1-1 record, will face Newman Smith of Carrollton at a site and time that have not yet been announced.

The Lions received a first-round bye while Newman Smith, which was third in 18-4A, blanked 17-4A runner-up Little Elm, 1-0, in a bi-district battle.

The Lady Lions, second to North Lamar in 20-4A, will open the playoffs at 7 p.m. Tuesday versus McKinney at McKinney High School.

The Lady Lions also received a first-round bye while McKinney, the 17-4A champion, whipped Newman Smith 5-1 in a bi-district playoff. Newman Smith finished fourth in 18-4A.

McKinney’s Lionettes are 15-1-2 for the season and have shut out 14 opponents this season.

“They’re solid,” said Lady Lions coach Ron Beck.

McKinney outscored its 17-4A opponents by a margin of 57-1. Prosper, which lost 5-1, was the only district team to score on McKinney.

“Their defense can be beat,” said Beck. “Their goalie can be beat.”

The Lady Lions went 6-1-1 in district play, wrapping up the regular season with a 5-0 victory over Princeton. Katelyn Twilley scored a hat trick for the Lady Lions, who also picked up two goals from Bailey Phillips.

Meg Stofer scored a hat trick for McKinney in its playoff win while Abby Smith and Amanda Frisbie scored single goals.

Jose Calles scored Newman Smith’s only goal in the Trojans’ playoff win over Little Elm.

The Trojans finished fourth in 18-4A behind R.L. Turner, Frisco Wakeland and Frisco with a 3-3-3 record.

The Lions wrapped up district play with a 3-0 blanking of Commerce on a very cold, wet and windy day at Commerce. Dagin Douglas, Ryan Wilhelm and Grant Boshart scored for the Lions.