The Benton Tigers wrapped up the District 1-I championship with an’8-0 victory over Haughton Sunday afternoon at Haughton.
Benton followed that with a 2-0 victory over Calvary Baptist in their regular-season finale Monday.
Benton improved to 12-6-3 overall and finished 4-0-1 in district play. The Tigers allowed only one goal in district play in a 1-1 tie against Byrd. The Yellow Jackets finished second at 3-0-2.
Josh Johanning scored two goals and had one assist against Haughton.. Chase Miguez and Joe Aboufaycal both scored one goal and had two assists.
Nathan Porter and Jak Kenyan had one goal and one assist each. Perkings Frambo Nkabyo scored one goal. Tucker Beatty scored on a penalty kick.
Aboufaycal and Nathan Porter scored one goal each against Calvary. Sol Kim and Logan Wiciak had one assist each.
“A huge key to our success this season is the talent I have on this team,” Benton Head Coach Matthew Valcho wrote in an email message. “This is the first season since taking over as head coach that our varsity team is almost entirely juniors and seniors.
“The younger players on previous teams are now battle-tested and more confident in their abilities. The result is the most complete team I have ever had the privilege of coaching since taking over the program.”
Valcho said the Tigers really got going at the start of district play.
“We really peaked at the right time,” he wrote. “After not playing well and losing to Neville in the first game after Christmas Break, the other coaches and I found our best lineup, and we didn’t lose the rest of the season.
“The team really took that last loss personally and has used it as motivation for a great run in the month of January. Ultimately leading to our first district title in Division 1.
Abfougaycal, a senior, leads the team in goals scored with 11. He also has eight assists.
Johanning, a junior, leads the team in assists with 15 and also had eight goals.
Senior defender Carson Bryant has scored eight goals, all on corner kicks.
“A great defender who is calm under pressure and is great at finding the ball on set pieces,” Valcho wrote.
Nkabyo has scored eight goals.
“Good with the ball at his feet, but his best skill is finding the seemingly perfect spot to be to finish his chances,” Valcho said.
Senior goalkeeper John Michael-Salvail gave up just the one goal against Byrd in district play. He made three penalty kicks in the shootout after the tie. He finished the regular season with 47 saves.
Kenyan has seven goals and three assists. Miguez has four goals and six assists.
Kim has five goals and one assist.
Benton is the No. 24 seed in the Division I playoffs and be on the road in the first round.
In other boys season finales Monday, Parkway edged Haughton 4-3 and Bossier downed Sterlington 4-0 in a District 1-III game.
Airline closed its season Sunday with a 2-2 district tie against Captain Shreve.
In girls regular-season finales, Airline fell to District 1-I champion Byrd 6-0, Benton downed Haughton 9-1, Bossier fell to Sterlington 8-0, Parkway fell to Calvary Baptist 5-0 and Providence Classical Academy lost to St. Frederick 5-1.
Benton improved to 19-4 and isbthe No. 5 seed in the Division I playoffs.
Jose Renteria scored two goals for the Haughton boys. Tyler Warren scored one. The Bucs finished 6-14-1.