Youth soccer swarms State Games

By Chris Brennaman / Assistant Sports Editor

June 21, 2009 12:59 am

— One of the most popular sports in the annual State Games of Mississippi is always youth soccer and with 121 teams playing more than 200 games, this year is no exception.
The event was spread between three venues with 8-and-under teams playing at Lamar School and both 10-and-under and 12-and-under playing at the Jaycees Soccer Complex, while the 14-, 16-, and 18-and-under teams took to the fields at Northeast Park.
“We have a maximum of 16 teams in the 10- and 12-and-under bracket and we always fill those up quickly,” soccer commissioner Jamie Smith said. “Participation is always higher in the younger age groups.
“The State Games is the culmination of the soccer season in most cities. The teams play their organizational tournaments and then this is one of the most competitive tournaments.”
And some of the biggest competition comes in the 10-and-under bracket, where the Meridian Youth Soccer Organization’s Boomers are playing. The Boomers are the defending gold medal winners.
The Boomers, who became the first team from Meridian to win the Division II state championship last month, own an impressive 32-2-2 record, including several wins over other State Games teams.
One of the two teams to knock off the Boomers this year was the Starkville Soccer Association Maroon. The two teams met up in pool play on Saturday and battled to a 0-0 tie.
“These two teams are the biggest rivals on the field, but they cheer each other on when they’re not playing,” Boomers coach Billy Howell said of his team and the Maroon. “All of our games against them have been one-goal games.”
Earlier in the day, both teams won their games so the Boomers and the Maroon sit in a tie for first in their pool with a 1-0-1 record. The Boomers beat the Magic Stars 9-0, while the Maroon knocked off HYSA Gold 4-0.
In the U8 bracket, the MYSO is represented by two boys teams and four girls teams.
The MYSO Galaxy, a U12 boys team, split its two games on Saturday. The Galaxy opened the morning with a 2-1 win over GGSA Eagles before falling 5-2 to the TYSA Black Attack.
In U14 boys action, the Meridian Futbol Club beat Tupelo United 4-1 in its first game. On the girls side, MYSO United beat OSSO Storm 2-0 to start the day.
The MYSO United boys team in the U16 bracket opened play with a 3-0 win over LJCSA Gunners, while the MYSO United girls U16 team beat Madison Tsunamis 3-0 and downed SSA Bulldogs 4-0.