Area boys soccer teams enter district tourneys

For much of this season, the Choctawhatchee boys’ soccer team has rolled through its regular season on cruise control. Having only graduated a pair of starters off last season’s state runner-up finisher, Indians coach Chris McDaniel returned a roster teeming with athleti-cism, talent and – most importantly – a chip on its shoulder.

But if there was one thing the Indians could have used before entering this week’s District 2-3A tournament, it might have been a wake-up call. Following a 2-0 defeat at the hands of county rival Niceville last Tuesday, McDaniel believes Choctaw received just that.

“I think the biggest thing was playing Niceville there at the end and getting a little more physical. We have some more athletes and that’s allowed us to move the ball around well on other teams,” McDaniel explained. “We needed that game at the end. (We needed) to get a little more physical.

“Hopefully, that will set us up going into the district tournament.”

Teams throughout the area will begin district tournament play today, several of which will serve as the host for their respective champi-onships. The District 1-A tournament, which opens on Wednesday, will take place at Twin Oaks. District 1-2A begins today at Walton with a match between South Walton and the host Braves.

Niceville, a program whose players have become accustomed to hoisting hardware above their heads, will host the District 1-4 tourna-ment, which also gets underway today.

With only the top two teams from each district advancing to the state playoffs, this week’s goal becomes simple, yet far from easy: earn a spot in the district final.

For Choctaw (17-3), the top seed in the District 2-3A tourney, that means beating Rutherford on Tuesday in the semifinals.

“Our main thing is focusing on that one game,” McDaniel said. “That first game is a must-win game or (the regular season) is all for naught.”

Niceville (23-2) secured the No. 1 seed by going 14-0 in district play in the regular season, but Eagles coach Wes Nelson said his team isn’t taking anything for granted.

“They know we’ve had a good season but it can end in one night,” Nelson said. “They know that and they’ve used that as motivation to prevent it from happening, if they can.”

Niceville will play Pine Forest tonight at 7 p.m. Fort Walton Beach (13-5-1), the No. 2 seed, also opens tournament play today with a 5 p.m. match against Escambia.

On Tuesday, Navarre faces Tate (5 p.m.) and Pace draws Crestview (7 p.m.).

In District 1-2A, third-seeded South Walton (8-6) draws the sixth-seeded Braves today. Finally at full strength, first-year Seahawks coach James Guy believes South Walton is fully capable of making a run this postseason. It’s a feeling derived, in part, because of the year-long leadership provided by captains Patrick Ryan, Angel De la Cruz and Andy Rodriguez.

“Despite the fact that we’re the third seed, we have as good a chance to win as anybody,” Guy said. “We’re looking forward to the chal-lenge.”

Rocky Bayou Christian and Freeport will begin play in the District 1-A tournament at Twin Oaks on Wednesday. Freeport, the fourth seed, draws top-seeded Port St. Joe (5 p.m.) while the third-seeded Knights will face Franklin County in the nightcap at 7 p.m.

Follow Travis Downey on Twitter: @TravisDnwfdn