By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

NEW ORLEANS – Riverside kept Newman at arm’s length for a half, but the third-seeded Greenies caught fire after halftime Saturday to capture an 8-0 bi-district playoff win and advance to the regional round.

Newman will play No. 9 Parkview Baptist in the second round after Parkview’s 8-0 win over Buckeye.

The Greenies’ Guy Scoggin scored three goals to lead his team.

Newman led Riverside 3-0 at halftime.

“I thought our guys did well,” said Riverside coach Stephen Millet. “Newman is extremely big and strong. They know how to play at this level. We held them scoreless for 20 minutes … All I can ask of our guys is to play hard and together. It’s the only way we’ll have success. I thought we did that.”

Riverside finishes the season 6-9-2.

Scoggin scored two of his goals in the first half. Millet said that his quickness posed problems for the Rebel defense.

“He broke us down twice,” said Millet. “We really didn’t have an answer there.”

Reflecting on the season, Millet says he certainly has reason for optimism going forward.

“I knew we had a chance to be decent with the boys we had returning,” said Millet. “We gave everyone in district a run and we had never done that before. So I know we’re doing something right here.”

EPISCOPAL OF ACADIANA 7, RIVERSIDE 1 – Episcopal scored six first half goals and advanced to the regional round of the playoffs with a victory at home over Riverside on Friday.

Episcopal, the ninth seed in Division III, advances to face No. 8 University, which defeated Parkview Baptist in the bi-district round.

Chelsie Cupit scored the Rebels’ lone goal late in the second half on a feed from Taylor Terrio.

Millet said that Episcopal was simply able to control the ball.

“We only had it on their side of the field a handful of times and we really had no quality scoring opportunities,” said Millet. “They spread the field and stretched out our defense … That field is wide and big and they more or less picked us apart.”

Millet said he was a little disappointed in how this season ended for his girls, noting that a number of players missed time down the stretch with illness or injury.

But as with his boys team, he sees good things ahead –provided his team is willing to put in the time for it.

“They can be good, but they’ll have to work,” Millet says.

”I was hoping we could end the season on a higher note. But I see us getting better. We’ll see what happens.”