The Paris Wildcats boys soccer team clinched its third straight district championship Friday with a 4-0 win over the Princeton Panthers at Wildcat Stadium. Meanwhile, the Princeton Lady Panthers also clinched a District 11-4A title Friday by a 2-0 count over the visiting Paris Ladycats.
Both Paris teams close out district play on Tuesday vs. neighboring North Lamar. The girls play at Wildcat Stadium, while the boys are at R. L. Maddox. The Ladycats need a regulation win over the Pantherettes to tie NL for second place in district.
Paris Wildcats head coach Jeremy Beshirs credited his defense in front of junior goalkeeper Cade Blackmon. He cited juniors Seth Hudgins and Keith Hall, sophomore Montana Payne, and senior Roberto Luna for their roles in the shutout. The Cats have allowed just one goal through five district matches.
Offensively, junior Stanley Watkins scored his 4th and 5th goals of the season, senior Justin Mitchell notched his team-leading 9th goal, and junior Zach Lamb had his 4th. Mitchell got it started with a PK goal off a Princeton hand ball. Watkins scored his first goal on a rebound midway through the first half, and Lamb gave Paris a 3-0 halftime lead with a score on a ball kept alive by Watkins and freshman Kyler Beshirs. Watkins scored again in the second half on a through ball from sophomore Nick Mitchell.
The Ladycats played a tighter match than their previous meeting (a 3-0 loss to Princeton), but the Lady Panthers, the 2015 state runnersup, have still not allowed a goal in district. They lead district standings with a perfect 20 points. North Lamar has 12 and Paris is currently third with 8. A win in regulation is worth 4 points.
JV matches start at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday with varsity to follow at 7:15. All four District 11 schools receive first-round byes and will open the playoffs the week of April 1 in area play.
By Tim Taylor