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Post by Scott Crawford on Dec 28, 2010 19:38:56 GMT -6
The top two teams in the state, Jesuit (15-0-2) and St. Paul's (18-0), will face off in the championship game of the 28th annual St. Paul's Holiday Invitational tomorrow morning, December 29, at 11 at Hunter Stadium. Jesuit enters the game on a national best 81 game unbeaten streak, while St. Paul's is the unanimous #1 team in the state, garnering the most votes in both the LAprepSoccer.net and Louisiana High School Soccer Coaches Association rankings.
In what is being called the game of the season and a prelude to the Division I state championship game, Jesuit, led by last year's Gatorade Louisiana Player of the Year, Steven Cabos, will face St. Paul's potent attack led by Seth Hagan and last year's All-Stater, Adrian McInnis. In a pre-season practice scrimmage, St. Paul's defeated Jesuit 1-0.
While both roads to this championship game were tough, Jesuit had a much tougher time getting here. After tying St. Thomas More 1-1 in its opening game, Jesuit needed near flawless play in bracket play to advance. After beating St. Martin's 9-0, Jesuit stayed on track with a 2-0 win over Catholic of Baton Rouge. Jesuit was not assured of advancement until learning that St. Thomas More beat St. Martin's 3-1. That lone St. Martin's goal clinched Jesuit's advancing to the Semifinals. Jesuit beat #3 Lafayette in the Semifinals by an impressive margin of 3-0.
St. Paul's racked up the most points of any team at the tournament in bracket play with 27 points. With wins against Rummel (3-0), Baton Rouge (3-1), and Dutchtown (1-0), there was little doubt who advanced in Bracket B. St. Paul's later beat an upstart Captain Shreve team 5-1 in the other Semifinals.
If there's one game you should see before the playoffs, Jesuit - St. Paul's is that game. May the best team win.
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Post by JoshuaC on Dec 28, 2010 19:39:38 GMT -6
yes yes yes! this is perfect can we get someone to record it possibly??
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Post by goalieguy on Dec 28, 2010 19:42:17 GMT -6
I'll say St. Paul's wins this game. SPS-1 Jesuit-0
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Post by Boomer on Dec 28, 2010 19:53:39 GMT -6
Is this a full-time game or are they playing abreviated time periods because of the tournament? thanks...
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Post by Scott Crawford on Dec 28, 2010 19:55:04 GMT -6
The semi-final and championship games will be 80 minutes in duration. In the semi-final and final games there will be two ten-minute overtime periods (golden goal format) and, if necessary, High School kicks.
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Post by Scott Crawford on Dec 28, 2010 20:41:25 GMT -6
Prediction:
I've had Jesuit #1 all season and until someone beats them, they're #1. I think Jesuit wins this thriller 2-1.
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Post by futbolfiend on Dec 28, 2010 20:51:39 GMT -6
I think JHS and SPS match up pretty well up top and in the midfield. JHS back 4 look like 4 sequoia's with ferrari speed. Don't think SPS will be able to just serve balls into the box. I watched the first half of Jesuit and Laffy and Laffy was the fastest team I had seen this year, Jesuit better in technical but I was surprised that jesuit matched them in pace as well. Good and really fast beats good and fast in the final..... jesuit 2-1 over St. Paul's. what a great final good luck to both teams.
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a9imus
All-District
Posts: 249
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Post by a9imus on Dec 28, 2010 20:53:18 GMT -6
St. Thomas More needed at least a 9-0 victory to advance. Actually, STM just needed 3-0 win over St. Martins, and they would have tied Jesuit in all tie-breakers, which would have sent them to PKs. The 3-1 result was just 1 goal shy. |
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Post by thebirdistheword on Dec 28, 2010 21:34:21 GMT -6
hard game to call. Jesuit have a lot more experience than SPS but SPS has some great players, though they may be young. im pulling for the wolves but i cant help but think that the Jays take this one.
2-1 Jesuit
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soccerness
All-State
99%
4-4-91 BOODOO#22.. R.I.P. Bruce
Posts: 489
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Post by soccerness on Dec 28, 2010 21:39:16 GMT -6
I think JHS and SPS match up pretty well up top and in the midfield. JHS back 4 look like 4 sequoia's with ferrari speed. Don't think SPS will be able to just serve balls into the box. I watched the first half of Jesuit and Laffy and Laffy was the fastest team I had seen this year, Jesuit better in technical but I was surprised that jesuit matched them in pace as well. Good and really fast beats good and fast in the final..... jesuit 2-1 over St. Paul's. what a great final good luck to both teams. i agree with you futbolfiend. laffy was the fastest and strongest team i have ever seen. the jays back four are unstoppable. and i think whoever wins the defensive battle, will win this game. im going with jesuit 2-0 over sps |
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Post by M Unit on Dec 28, 2010 21:48:53 GMT -6
As I said in the StP Tourney thread (*before* Timaeus hijacked my prediction & posted it here, which is illegal  ), I am going with Jesuit 2-1 over StP. I am tempted to change my prediction to 3-1, just out of spite... M Unit |
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Post by hdkjga on Dec 28, 2010 22:53:29 GMT -6
18-0 SPS playing at home in a game where they can get a nice crowd that is 95% rooting for SPS......Jesuit showing signs of mortality against STM......
JHS 1-0 in OT..............everything is in SPS's favor, but until someone beats Jesuit, I will go with them.
I believe this will be the only meeting between these two teams this year. History would say that it is a rarity to get a matchup like this during the season and even more rare for a rematch in the playoffs.
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Post by coachray40 on Dec 28, 2010 23:02:45 GMT -6
Im going with St Pauls 2-1. Seen them both play and I just think St Pauls is better. I, like everyone else, have a 50-50 chance of being right I agree with h that we probably wont see these two teams play again. Playoff karma usually dictates that With that being said, will all of you Jesuit supporters please be willing, if St Pauls wins, to come back here and acknowledge that they are the better team....no "well they got lucky", or "the refs screwed us" or "We had more possesion". Many of you keep talking about how Jesuit is #1 until they lose--well if they lose tomorrow, then come back here and acknowledge it. I will do the same if St Pauls loses. |
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Post by M Unit on Dec 28, 2010 23:46:42 GMT -6
Do you mean, coachray40, like if someone was to come on here and say, "The only way StP would win this match 2-1 is b/c they had more time to rest before final and b/c they are more used to their turf than JHS"...?
That being said, I just see StP being sluggish in 1st Half and going down 1 or 2 nil at half, then come roaring back in 2nd Half where they score only 1 goal and JHS scoring either their 2nd goal or possibly 3d...
M Unit
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Post by lvjdad on Dec 28, 2010 23:51:33 GMT -6
I think JHS and SPS match up pretty well up top and in the midfield. JHS back 4 look like 4 sequoia's with ferrari speed. Don't think SPS will be able to just serve balls into the box. I watched the first half of Jesuit and Laffy and Laffy was the fastest team I had seen this year, Jesuit better in technical but I was surprised that jesuit matched them in pace as well. Good and really fast beats good and fast in the final..... jesuit 2-1 over St. Paul's. what a great final good luck to both teams. Thanks, Fiend. Defense rarely gets lauded. J's starting back 4 were #3 Barbara (Sr), #16 Ciaccio (Sr), #9 Hicks (Jr), #6 Napolitano (Sr). All play for the CFJLA U18 RPL team. Subbing this evening v Laffy was #4 Cookmeyer (Jr). Jays take it in a close & well-fought battle 2-1. |
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Post by ShreveDad on Dec 29, 2010 7:21:14 GMT -6
I'll be pulling for St. Pauls, but if I were betting money I say the Jays keep the streak alive 2-1.
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Post by sake on Dec 29, 2010 7:30:22 GMT -6
Jesuit wins 2-1 in the first ten minute period in overtime. St Pauls scores their goal late in regulation.
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Post by ShreveDad on Dec 29, 2010 7:36:09 GMT -6
J's starting back 4 were #3 Barbara (Sr), #16 Ciaccio (Sr), #9 Hicks (Jr), #6 Napolitano (Sr). All play for the CFJLA U18 RPL team. Subbing this evening v Laffy was #4 Cookmeyer (Jr). Doesn't that say it all. That is the reason why Jesuit is always the team to beat. |
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Post by loJic on Dec 29, 2010 9:02:15 GMT -6
J's starting back 4 were #3 Barbara (Sr), #16 Ciaccio (Sr), #9 Hicks (Jr), #6 Napolitano (Sr). All play for the CFJLA U18 RPL team. Subbing this evening v Laffy was #4 Cookmeyer (Jr). Doesn't that say it all. That is the reason why Jesuit is always the team to beat. Yep. Oh how money plays such a big role in their success. Not knocking the kids or Jesuit, just the system. My prediction 2-0 jesuit |
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Post by Scott Crawford on Dec 29, 2010 10:07:39 GMT -6
Is there anyone who will be able to give in-game updates?
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), I am going with Jesuit 2-1 over StP. I am tempted to change my prediction to 3-1, just out of spite...
