GCPL Season Preview: Western Conference

Home Venue: Wildcat Stadium (Louisiana College)

2018 Season: 3rd in west division; 5-5-0; 15 pts

Player to watch: Mackenzie Young (Defender/Forward) — The Scotsman is a versatile player with a good soccer IQ and tenacious speed. The LSUA graduate has had on and off stints with Pool Boys for the past 3 season, but this will be his first full year with the Alexandria unit. His experience and leadership should give the Pool Boys the boost needed to make it back in the playoffs.

Coach’s Corner: Jeremy Poklemba – “We’ve added more to our supporting staff this season that should allow us to compete. The addition of Greg Comeaux to our day-to-day staff and the inclusion of  our younger players in our u23 squad have given PBFC more coaching prowess and player depth which should lead to a solid showing for the 2019 GCPL season.”

Writer’s predictions: A roller coaster ride is the best way to describe Pool Boys’ season in 2018. A good amount of players, including veteran, Juno Mboungou, are returning to the mix. The central Louisiana crew have also added some new faces that should give them a boost to push for a playoff spot in July.

Home Venue: Bossier High School Stadium

2018 Season: 1st in west division; 9-0-1; 28 pts

Player to watch: Quesi Weston (Forward) — The 2018 GCPL goal scoring leader returns to the Shreveport outfit for the 2019 season. The Trinidadian has made his name known in the GCPL banging in 16 goals in only 9 games played. We can expect much of the same this year from the big forward.

Coach’s Corner: Sergio Perez Sr. – “The base of the team is back and we have added some excellent players with our style of play. For Boca, winning the Championship is the goal.  We have every intention of pushing ourselves to higher heights than ever.”

Writer’s predictions: BOCA returns a good amount of players from their dominating 2018 season. Missing Quesi Weston and veteran centerback, Abdullah Rayyan, proved to be too much for the Knights to overcome in their loss to western conference foes, Cajun SC, in the 2018 semifinals. If BOCA can stay healthy, we can expect to see them back in the playoffs making a push for their first appearance in the GCPL Cup.

Home Venue: LUS Fiber Stadium

2018 Season: 2nd in west division; 6-3-1; 19 pts; Finalist

Player to watch: Myles Joseph (Centerback) — A promising product of the Cajun SC youth system, Myles finished his Sophomore season at Hanover College being dubbed the 2018 Defensive MVP for the Heartland Conference. Joseph’s inclusion this season will add to an already stout Cajun defense.

Coach’s Corner: Mark Hiller – “We started training earlier this season than we have in the past. The boys are much fitter and the competition for each position is very high. Our conference will be tough but if we can find the right balance, like we have in the past, we are confident to make another appearance for a chance at the title.”

Writer’s predictions: The only team to have reached the GCPL Cup more than once, the Lafayette crew came up short in the 2018 final. However, it’s quite impressive that the make up of Cajun’s roster consists of roughly 90% homegrown players directly from their youth system. It’s hard to deny, with their current success, that Cajun SC may be the best developmental club in the GCPL. We expect them to be in the mix come mid July.

Home Venue: Bob Shelton Stadium

2018 Season: 4th in west division; 3-7-0; 9 points

Player to watch: Oscar Eduardo Saavedra Flores (Forward) – A veteran and successful product of the Mexican Second Division, Flores brings a plethora of experience for the Lobos attack this year. The former Leon Academy player will surely be a player to keep an eye on this GCPL season.

Coach’s Corner: Jorge Cruz – ” “I am very excited and hopeful for the upcoming season. My goal is to inspire and educate our players to see results and learn how to be successful not only on the field but in their everyday lives.  To me soccer is more than just a game, it’s a way of life.””

Writer’s predictions: The GCPL’s only Texas outfit saw their leader and starting keeper, Blake Landers, miss majority of the season due to a broken leg in an early contest vs Motagua New Orleans. This seemed to have taken a toll on the Lobos and the Austin based club finished 4th in a tough west division. The signing of veteran head coach, Jorge Cruz, who has been in and around the US Soccer Development Academy system since 2008, and most recently serving as the assistant coach for the Jordan Women’s International Team, should see some experience added to a young and up and coming club. The Lobos could be playoff bound in 2019.

Home Venue: UL Lafayette Soccer Stadium

2018 Season: inaugural season

Player to watch: Munir Poca (Winger) – The former Alexandria FC winger joins the Krewe for the 2019 season and offers a potent attacking option for the newly based Lafayette club. The Brazilian is crafty on the wings with a deadly range from scoring anywhere around the 18.

Coach’s Corner: Joan Olivia – “This is our first year as a team, and we are looking forward to start playing and competing in this raising GCPL. We have been working since February and we really feel we created a good team, with good players and great people.”

Writer’s predictions: Stemming from the Houston Dynamo Juniors academy in Lafayette, the Krewe have set their sights on becoming not just the best team in Lafayette to root for, but the best in Louisiana. From their Mardi Gras themed kits and club name, the Krewe are looking to steal the show in the boot state. On the field they look to be doing just as much work by adding quality players such as former Cajun SC midfielder Erick Medina and Oscar Castellanos from Barcelona. All eyes are on the Krewe for their inaugural season.

Home Venue: Lee Hedges Stadium

2018 Season: 5th in west division; 0-10-0; 0 points

Player to watch: Gustavo Mendez (Forward) – A very promising attacker out of the Shreveport United youth ranks. Mendez will be one to keep an eye on as the El Salvadorian offers a strong presence in the front line for United.

Coach’s Corner: Francois Browne – “We have a new look to our team this year with a great mix of youth and experience. This will be our 2nd season but we are expecting good things with this group.  ”

Writer’s predictions: Shreveport United enter their second season in the GCPL after failing to record a single point in their 2018 campaign. The Northern Louisiana club looks to revamp their roster, adding some experience to it’s depth, while keeping it’s younger prospects involved. The 2018 wasn’t kind to the Shreveport group. We will see if their more seasoned players will give them some much needed leadership for this young unit.