Boys soccer: HISD to showcase best

Some of the area's premier soccer talent will be on display this week at the Houston Invitational Varsity Boys Soccer Tournament.

For the second straight year, the Houston Independent School District will host the 16-team event. However, Bellaire head coach Ray Kanzig, one of the tournament's organizers, hopes the weather cooperates.

Rainy conditions rendered most of the fields unplayable, forcing Houston ISD to condense last year's showcase into one day and shorten the individual games.

"It wasn't a great start, but at least we got the tournament in," Kanzig said.

Rain or shine, this year's edition will be contested, thanks to the installation of turf on the showcase fields. The tourney runs Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 20-22, at four sites — Barnett, Butler, Delmar and Dyer stadiums.

Twelve of the 16 teams reached the postseason a year ago, which should make for interesting competition.

"With so many quality teams, it's difficult to pick a winner," Kanzig said. "Every single day, there will be at least two or three playoff-caliber games."

Teams will be divided into four-team pools, with the top two teams in each pool advancing to the first- and third-place games to be played on Saturday, Jan. 22.

ABOUT THE TOURNAMENT

• Event: 2nd Annual Houston Invitational Varsity Boys Soccer Tournament

• When: Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 20-22

• Where: Barnett, Butler, Delmar and Dyer stadiums

• Participating teams: Westside, Brazoswood, Davis, Spring Woods, Bellaire, Katy Taylor, Bay City, KIPP Academy, Chavez, Sharpstown, Humble, West Columbia, Lee, Cy Falls, Sam Houston and Furr.

SCHEDULE

Thursday, Jan. 20

• Delmar Stadium: Cy Falls vs. Sam Houston, 5 p.m.; Furr vs. Lee, 7 p.m.

• Dyer Stadium: Brazoswood vs. Davis, 5 p.m.; Spring Woods vs. Westside, 7 p.m.

• Butler Stadium: Katy Taylor vs. Bay City, 5 p.m.; KIPP Academy vs. Bellaire, 7 p.m.

• Barnett Stadium: Sharpstown vs. Humble, 5 p.m.; West Columbia vs. Chavez, 7 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 21

• Dyer Stadium: Westside vs. Brazoswood, 3:30 p.m.; Davis vs. Spring Woods, 5 p.m.; Spring Woods vs. Brazoswood, 8 p.m.

• Butler Stadium: Bellaire vs. Bay City, 3:30 p.m.; KIPP Academy vs. Katy Taylor, 5 p.m.; Bay City vs. KIPP Academy, 8 p.m.

• Barnett Stadium: Chavez vs. Humble, 3:30 p.m.; West Columbia vs. Sharpstown, 5 p.m.; Humble vs. West Columbia, 8 p.m.

• Delmar Stadium: Furr vs. Cy Falls, 3:30 p.m.; Sam Houston vs. Lee, 5 p.m.; Sam Houston vs. Furr, 8 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 22 at Barnett Stadium

• Dyer Stadium: Davis vs. Westside, 9 a.m.

• Butler Stadium: Katy Taylor vs. Bellaire, 9 a.m.

• Barnett Stadium: Sharpstown vs. Chavez, 9 a.m.

• Delmar Stadium: Cy Falls vs. Lee, 9 a.m.

• Third-place games: • Pool 4 Runner-Up vs. Pool 3 Runner-Up, •  1 p.m.

• Third-place game: Pool 2 Runner-Up vs. Pool 1 Runner-Up, • and 3 p.m.

• Championship games: • Pool 4 Champion vs. Pool 3 Champion, • 5 p.m.

• Championship game: Pool 1 Champion vs. Pool 2 Champion, • and 7 p.m.