Bishop England boys' soccer team is best in the Lowcountry
The Bishops England boys’ soccer team has spent most of the season ranked No. 1 in the state among Class AA teams. Now it’s time to see if the Bishops can convert that No. 1 ranking into a state championship.
The Bishops were 17-2-1 and were scheduled to complete the regular season this week with a match against Whale Branch on Monday. Then, it’s on to the playoffs.
This is one of the most talented teams coach Ed Khouri has fielded in recent years. Need proof? The Bishops own a victory over reigning Class AA state champ Academic Magnet. The Bishops also own a victory over Wando, a decision gained on penalty kicks. Wando entered the game as the No. 1 team in the state in Class AAAA and was ranked No. 1 in the country in the USA Today poll of teams that play soccer in the spring.
“This team has a good nucleus that played on our last championship team in 2013,” veteran coach Khouri said. “This team is talented, has more balance and more depth. We have four of five players who played on the state championship team in 2013, so that helps, experience wise. We also have a talented freshman class.”
The nucleus is good. The team is disciplined and hungry. The Bishops’ claim to being the best team in the Lowcountry, if not the state, has taken a hit the past few seasons. The emergence of Academic Magnet is the biggest reason. The Raptors have won two straight state titles and three of the last four years.
But the Bishops steamrolled the Raptors 4-0 on the road in the only meeting between the schools this spring.
“Everything has come together,” Khouri said. “We’re aiming for the state championship. That’s where we belong.”
The Bishops will begin the playoffs on May 3 and will be the No. 1 seed in the Lower State. Khouri anticipates another showdown against the Raptors in the playoffs. That matchup should come in the Lower State championship. If the Bishops reach the state championship match and win another title, they would own the state record with 17 state championships overall. Currently, Irmo and Bishop England share the honor with 16 titles each.
The biggest shocker of the season was the Bishops’ victory over Wando. The Bishops claimed the victory on penalty kicks as keeper Jake Michel came up with two critical stops in the PK phase to help the Bishops. It was the Bishops’ first victory over Wando since 2012.
Bishop England, meanwhile, was denied on its first PK, but rebounded with goals on its next four attempts as Joel Bunting, Michel, Buist Kennedy and Curtis Johnson scored.
Bunting scored the Bishops’ only goal in regulation, scoring in the 15th minute.
Now, comes the playoffs and the Bishops must prove they have the talent.
“The physical part of our game is good,” Khouri said. “The mental part is good. The preparation has been much better as well. We felt good about this team once we started assembling it in December.”