MYSO gets first U-19 state championship

By By Will Bardwell / staff writer
May 6, 2004
The Meridian Youth Soccer Organization's under-19 boys soccer team brought home a state championship a week ago.
A 2-0 win over Clinton in the state championship game in Jackson capped a string of four straight shutouts for Meridian, which took home the first U-19 soccer championship in MYSO history.
It was also the first state championship for this team, which for the most part has remained intact for years, according to head coach Russell Sonak.
The team finished with an 11-1 record after the run through the state tournament. Its only loss came in the district tournament against Florence.
Despite the loss, Meridian advanced to the state tournament, since the top two teams from each district earned berths in the tournament. Once play began in the eight-team tournament, Meridian did not surrender a goal in any of its games.
Of Meridian's four opponents in the tournament, only Vicksburg was not a No. 1 seed from its respective division.
Sonak said the same team will also compete in the State Games soccer tournament in June.