Boys’ soccer playoffs: Douglass set to prove itself; defending champ Dunbar looms large
Frederick Douglass boys’ soccer coach Omar Shalash’s six-year program build has the No. 3 Broncos in the conversation as one of the best teams in the state, a point they proved Wednesday night in Louisville against No. 1 St. Xavier by nabbing a 1-1 tie with a goal in the closing minutes.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said Shalash, who was named the boys’ head soccer coach well ahead of the school’s opening in 2017. “They’re talented. And when they match the work ethic and energy of the guys before them that maybe didn’t play club all their life … it finally led to this.”
This week, Douglass (13-0-4) will need to prove its mettle again to move forward in the postseason as district playoffs begin.
“This is all those players. I’m just the loud guy who tries to make sure they are around,” Shalash said after Wednesday’s tie against St. X helped the Broncos remain unbeaten. “They make it a lot easier when they listen. The target gets bigger. We’re going to refocus and we’re going to try to make this right.”
Standing in their way in the 42nd District probably will be perennial power Henry Clay and a dangerous No. 21 Bryan Station team that first has to plow through Scott County in the district semis for that opportunity.
On the other side of town, the 43rd District Tournament features No. 4 Paul Laurence Dunbar, the defending state champions, and a host of other contenders. Dunbar has knocked Douglass out of the postseason each of the last two years in region tournament games determined by overtime penalty kick shootouts.
Teams that reach their respective district finals will advance to next week’s 11th Region Tournament that will include hopefuls from the 41st and 44th districts, a group that’s sure to feature 2022 All “A” Classic state champion Frankfort, the No. 20 team in the state, according to the most recent Maher Rankings.
Douglass’s path through
Douglass features two-sport athlete Cooper Ranvier up top (he’s also the football kicker) along with speedy sophomore Ombeni “Beni” Shendera. Shendera delivered a perfect cross for Ranvier’s stunning finish that tied No. 1 St. Xavier 1-1 on Wednesday with 2:12 left in the game.
“They were ranked No. 1, but we think we’re No. 1. We’re No. 1 in our hearts,” Ranvier said of his team, adding that he’s “extremely” confident about them heading into this week. “We’re excited.”
When Henry Clay self-reported an ineligible player had participated in the first half of the season, the resulting forfeits tossed the district standings upside down and put the Blue Devils into Monday’s play-in game against Sayre for the right to face top-seeded Douglass on Tuesday.
Henry Clay, a three-time state champion, is the two-time defending district champ and rarely seeds so low. Even with its difficulties and 4-15-1 record, Henry Clay, if it beats Sayre, won’t be an easy out for Douglass in a win-or-go-home semifinals match.
“We got the bad end of the stick in that deal, but at the end of the day, you’ve got to go through everybody to be the champion,” Shalash said.
Bryan Station (11-4-2), a balanced, fast and technically gifted team, should await in the district finals. Fifteen different Defenders have scored this season led by Mwanaume Buhari Kadusi and Serge Nkomeza.
The champs are here
Over in the 43rd District, No. 4 Dunbar (9-2-3 through Friday), like Douglass, went 4-0 inside its district. And, like Douglass, Dunbar got a 1-1 draw from St. X when they faced each other in Lexington on Sept. 12.
Unlike Douglass, Dunbar’s district foes include three top 25 teams instead of just the one. Each has reason to believe they can knock off the Bulldogs and anyone else in the way.
“Overall, I think the district is a pretty level playing field,” Tates Creek Coach Albert Gross said. “I think any team can beat anybody on any given night. … I don’t think we’re intimidated or scared by anybody and we’re sure looking forward to the opportunity.”
No. 18 Tates Creek (9-4-2), lost to each district foe by a single goal or penalty kick shootout, and will probably be Dunbar’s challenger in Monday’s semifinals if it can successfully navigate Sunday’s play-in game against Lexington Christian. Notably, the Commodores held Douglass to a 2-2 tie on Thursday.
No. 10 Lafayette (11-6-0) has won nine of 11 since Musampa Bandamuna and Chase Cloyd returned to the team from injury midseason. Lexington Catholic (6-5-6) ranks just outside the Maher Rankings top 25, but has been dangerous with three district wins.
Nobody’s underdog
Being the new program on the block, the Broncos could consider themselves the underappreciated underdogs the last few years. That might not be the case this postseason, and that’s fine, their coach said.
“Having that target, knowing that people know what we’re about because we believed it for a while now, it just gets harder and you have to go out and execute,” Shalash said. “It’s executing, communicating and being together. If we do those three things, we will succeed. We’ll move on. And, hopefully, it doesn’t come down PKs. …
“If we play our soccer, I don’t think anybody can beat us this year.”
42nd District Boys’ Soccer Tournament
At Great Crossing
Monday’s first-round game
8 p.m.: Henry Clay (4-15-1) vs. Sayre (6-7-3)
Tuesday’s semifinal
8 p.m.: Henry Clay-Sayre winner vs. Frederick Douglass (13-0-4)
Wednesday’s semifinal
8 p.m.: Bryan Station (11-4-2) vs. Scott County (6-8-2)
Thursday’s championship
8 p.m.: Semifinal winners meet
43rd District Boys’ Soccer Tournament
At Paul Laurence Dunbar
Sunday’s first-round game
2 p.m.: Tates Creek (9-4-2) vs. Lexington Christian (3-12-0)
Monday’s semifinals
6 p.m.: Lafayette (11-6-0) vs. Lexington Catholic (6-5-6)
8 p.m.: Tates Creek-LCA winner vs. Paul Laurence Dunbar (9-2-3*)
Wednesday’s championship
7 p.m.: Semifinal winners meet
*Saturday’s game not included.
This story was originally published September 30, 2022 at 12:02 PM.
