By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
Oct. 1, 2003
Lamar School's fate in the Mississippi Private Schools Associations girls' soccer playoffs was decided by the flip of a coin.
The Lady Raiders (7-2) finished the regular season in a three-way tie for first place with Jackson Prep and Presbyterian Christian School.
In order to seed the three teams, a coin flip was used and Lamar lost making it the third seed in the South. The Lady Raiders will travel to take on Jackson Academy in the opening round of the playoffs at 3 p.m. Thursday.
Lamar head coach Eddie Escobar said while he would rather start the postseason at home, he did see a bright side to where his team landed in the playoff picture.
Playing at Jackson Academy, a team Lamar beat twice last season but lost to in the playoffs two years ago, is also beneficial for the Lady Raiders.
Lamar developed into a very strong ball control team playing on a field that is wider than most high school's at Northeast Park.
Escobar said the landscape of Jackson Academy's field is similar to that of Northeast Park.
No matter how well the Lady Raiders control the ball attacking the net from the wings in, the team will rely heavily on a defense that has been solid this season.
Anchored by goalkeeper Cheryl Luquire, Lamar has been able to turn away most of its opponents' attacks on net this season.
Lamar's tough defense will be challenged by a strong front-line presence of Jackson Academy.
While the Lady Raiders road to the championship round will be tough, the team can take solace in the fact that they have been in this situation before.
Lamar advanced to the semifinal round last season, and the team returned 22 players from that squad.