Khouri keeps piling up victories at BE

Bishop England boys soccer coach Ed Khouri reached a personal milestone recently when he gained his 300th career victory. But as the season winds down and the Bishops prepare for Saturday's Class AA state championship against Emerald, Khouri is stressing teamwork.

"It's going to be a tough match — it always is," Khouri said of Saturday's championship match, which is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Memorial Stadium in Columbia. "This is the third straight year we have played them in the championship, and we have beaten them the past two years. It is very hard to keep your players motivated when you play the same team."

Khouri picked up his 300th victory in the regular season finale against Burke. He became only the seventh boys coach in South Carolina history to reach 300 victories, according to the High School League publication "Palmetto's Finest."

He's since added three playoff victories, upping his victory total to 303.

He took over as coach in 1994 and has led the Bishops to nine state championships and three runner-up finishes.

"We had good feeder clubs, and that was the key," he said. "That's what I continued to do. We have been successful because of our feeder program. We reload. We keep an eye on them when they play at the club level. I know what they're doing, where they are. That makes it easier when they play at the high school level.

"We've also been successful because of the parental support and the support of the athletic director, Paul Runey, at Bishop England."

Ask Khouri to pick his most memorable team and he admits it's hard because he has produced so many all-state players and state championship teams.

"But the year we were sixth in the nation stands out," Khouri said. "That team had Adam Walker. I think it was 1996 or 1998. It was a great team. This year, this team could be the second-best team skill-wise that the program has produced. It's a very talented team overall. They know the game. This year, we have been able to adjust to the situations very quickly. We can change the style of play if we have to."

The Bishops are second to Irmo in all-time state championships. Irmo is going after its 16th state title Saturday, while Bishop England is seeking its 14th.

The Bishops have won four straight state championships three times. The first streak was from 1992-95, and the Bishops won four in a row from 1998-2001. The Bishops , have won four straight state titles, and a win Saturday would give the Bishops five in a row.

And it would give Khouri career victory No. 304.