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Post by Scott Crawford on Apr 2, 2013 9:59:19 GMT -6
1998-1999 LHSAA Championship Division I February 27, 1999 Zephyr Field, Metairie Jesuit 3 Acadiana 0 JESUIT FINISHES PERFECT SEASON - ACADIANA LOSES DIVISION I FINALETimes-Picayune, The (New Orleans, LA) - Sunday, February 28, 1999 Author: JIM RAPIER Staff writer After a cooler of water was dumped on his head, Jesuit soccer coach Garry Ortner said he had come prepared for getting wet Saturday. "I brought a change of clothes today," Ortner said. "I thought it might rain." Ortner was serious about his weather worries, not presumptuous about his team's chances in the Division I final against two-time defending state champion Acadiana. As it turned out, the weather held. The Blue Jays left their coach no other reason to worry by defeating Acadiana, 3-0, to finish the season 31-0. Jesuit won its second title in six years and avenged a loss to Acadiana in the 1997 final. The victory culminated Jesuit's season-long devotion to team goals and commitment to staying within its game. P.J. Kee, Collin Holmes and Brett Grau were the beneficiaries of the Blue Jays' strong play, which resulted in much of the match being played on the Rams' side of the field. Grau scored in the 30th minute, and Kee and Holmes added goals in the second half. Jesuit took control of the match after the first 10 minutes with a precise passing game, keeping consistent pressure on the Rams (24-4-3) and outshooting Acadiana 17-8. "We had three goals when we started the season," Holmes said. "We wanted to have fun, have team unity and go undefeated. ... This was my last game. I have been playing for 10 years. It is a great feeling to end like this." Said Ortner: "We started slow, but we have had a tendency to start slow. Once we get past the first five to 10 minutes, get the feel of what the other team is trying to do, I know if we stay with our game plan and get into the flow, we will build from there. ... I felt confident coming into this, and so did the kids. There is a difference between cockiness and confidence. They were confident and worked hard and deserved it." Acadiana made a couple of runs at the Jesuit goal in the first 10 minutes. Then Jesuit began to build momentum. The Blue Jays were beginning to press the Acadiana defense when Grau scored with a shot that trickled inside the left post. The ball "deflected off a player, and then I made a quick turn on a defender and shot," Grau said. "I saw the front post open and shot it as close as possible. The goalkeeper got his hand on it, but it was not enough." Jesuit, which barely missed scoring a second goal on a header a few minutes later, outshot the Rams 7-3 in the first half playing with the wind at its back. Acadiana did not get much of an advantage with the wind in the second half. Holmes scored the Blue Jays' second goal midway through the half with a hard, low shot to the left corner from the right wing. "They came out and wanted it more," Acadiana coach Glenn Laviolette said. "They really came after us hard and kept us back on our feet. They built the momentum. We were still playing our game, but some of the little things that have worked for us this year didn't come today. When things didn't work, it was frustrating." In the last 10 minutes of the match, Kee put the finishing touches on Jesuit's performance with a goal. He picked up a loose ball in the penalty box and had time to right himself before shooting as a tiring Rams defense and out-of-position goalkeeper scrambled to defend him. Kee, who is a junior, said this is the greatest thing in soccer that has happened to him, before noting that his team returns some talented younger players for next year. He was not the only one looking ahead to defending the state title. "This is the perfect end to a perfect season," Ortner said. "I am already looking forward to next year. We have talented players coming back, and now we have to keep this level of play going." BLUE JAYS' OBJECTIVES ARE TITLE, UNDEFEATED SEASONTimes-Picayune, The (New Orleans, LA) - Saturday, February 27, 1999 Author: JOHN REID Staff writer Jesuit is a control team. The Blue Jays' soccer players kick precision passes to one another. They play keep-away from their opponents. They blast shots from 25 yards. They charge the goal with three to four players in the box. They make goalkeepers miss. They frustrate midfielders -- it's tough to get open shots on goal against a wall of Blue Jays defenders coming from all angles. For 30 consecutive matches, that's what Jesuit has done. All victories. Now comes the big battle, the final test. Today at 2 p.m., the Blue Jays play two-time defending state champion Acadiana (24-3-3) for the Division I championship at Zephyr Field. "This is what we have worked for all year," said Jesuit coach Garry Ortner. "To be here, at 30-0 and ranked third in the nation are all great accomplishments. This is indeed a team; on the field, off the field and at practice." If his team wins, it would be the Blue Jays' second state championship since 1995. They were state runners-up in 1997, 1996 and 1994 under Ortner. There has been pressure this season. The Blue Jays' team goal in November was to win state; the other was to go through the entire schedule, playoffs included, unbeaten. Pressure? "We've handled it well all year; I think we will get through this," said senior forward Collin Holmes, who scored two goals in his team's 6-1 victory against Shreveport Byrd in Wednesday's semifinals. Acadiana will be different from Byrd. The Rams, who defeated Hahnville, 1-0, in the semifinals, play a style similar to that of the Blue Jays. They try to control the pace with numerous passes and shots on goal. "We're like a carbon copy of each other," said Acadiana coach Jorge Le-Roy said. "We both match up well, and we know they are going to give us a tremendous battle. But the team that gets a lucky break and wants it the most is going to win." Acadiana has outscored its opponents 120-29. Midfielder Jeff Shelton leads the team with 38 goals. Jesuit has not played Acadiana this season, but Ortner said he has watched the Rams play three times. "They have a couple of forwards who are pretty good, and they push it up the field," Ortner said. "But I feel confident both our offense and defense is meshing together. Our defense has created a lot of opportunities." It has helped establish the Blue Jays' possession attack of numerous passes to set up scorers like midfielders P.J. Kee and Jerry Freel and several others. "We've got keep working; we realize they are going to be coming at us," said Kee. "But we're dominating, and it feels good." And it would feel even better with a victory in the biggest match of the season.
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Post by Scott Crawford on Apr 2, 2013 10:10:38 GMT -6
1998-1999 LHSAA Championship Division III February 27, 1999 Newman 4 Parkview Baptist 2 NEWMAN CLAIMS STATE TITLE IN SOCCER - PARKVIEW FAILS TO ERASE DEFICITTimes-Picayune, The (New Orleans, LA) - Sunday, February 28, 1999 Author: MICHAEL SMITH Staff writer Newman boys soccer coach Gerald Mueller was uncharacteristically calm during Saturday's Division III state championship game. Normally, Mueller paces the sidelines and frantically yells instructions to his team. But not Saturday. Even after Parkview trimmed Newman's three-goal lead, Mueller just sat back, legs crossed and watched his team play. And the Greenies delivered. The Greenies, state finalists three of the past four seasons, withstood Parkview's comeback and defeated the Eagles, 4-2, to finish the season undefeated and win their first state championship since 1995 in front of about 800 fans at Lupin Field. "They got this far, now the game was theirs," said Mueller, who also led Newman to a state title in 1993. "I told them at the beginning of the game that the yelling and screaming and pressure is over. They got us here, now I'm just going to let them play." With his team clinging to a 3-2 lead midway through the second half, Newman striker Dwayne Jones took a long pass and made a charge toward the goal. Jones induced Eagles goalkeeper Brett Bergeron to commit to his left, leaving the right side of the goal open. Jones then crossed a pass to Brad Sutherlin, who tapped it into the net to give Newman (19-0-2) a two-goal cushion. "When we got in the huddle, we just said, 'Go back to our game, calm down, take it easy, relax, and if we keep the pressure, it'll come back,'" said Mueller. "We knew sooner or later Dwayne was going to break it. We knew Brad was going to break it, and we knew if we just keep pushing and pushing, it was going to work. So we didn't panic or anything. We didn't yell and scream at anybody." In the sixth minute, Jones' shot on goal went wide left, but Sutherlin was there to control the ball. After some fancy footwork, Sutherlin shot to the lower right corner of the goal for a 1-0 lead. In the 18th minute, Will Walter headed in a throw-in from Jones to make the score 2-0. Four minutes later, after a Blake Huffstutler throw-in, Shaw Joseph passed to Jones, who pushed the ball past the reach of Bergeron to extend the lead to 3-0. "They jumped on us early and got a 3-0 lead 25 minutes into the game, and we couldn't recover," Parkview coach John Green said. "We were playing catch-up from there. We do a whole lot better when we get the lead early." Parkview (23-3-4) scored on a header by Nick Brune off a throw-in by Bryson Person to make it 3-1. Just before the end of the first half, Parkview appeared to have scored again on Brune's free kick to the upper right corner of the Newman goal. But officials ruled that the free kick should have been an indirect one, meaning another player had to touch the ball before the shot. But less than a minute into the second half, Parkview successfully cut the its deficit to 3-2 when Rishi Vyas' shot from 25 yards found the back of the goal. Sutherlin scored his second goal 20 minutes later for the final margin. "We just called the team together and told them, 'Look, we can't let this slip away because it's happened to us too many times,'" said Sutherlin, a senior. "We told everybody to step it up a notch, and we were lucky enough to get the fourth one (goal). After that, we were just kind of on cruise control." As time expired, Newman's players and students from the stands stormed the field in celebration. "This feels unbelievable," Sutherlin said. "This has been a long time coming for us." Newman puts away PBS for 3rd soccer title of '90sThe Advocate (Baton Rouge, La.) - Sunday, February 28, 1999 Author: TIRCUIT The cemetery near Newman's Lupin Field was a sign of things to come for Parkview Baptist in the Division III boys soccer title match on Saturday. The second-ranked Eagles (23-3-2) dug themselves into an early grave by quickly falling behind 1-0. The hole got deeper and eventually top-ranked Newman (19-0-2) came away with a 4-2 victory. The championship is Newman's third of the 1990's. It ended three straight runners-up finishes for the Greenies. Newman was making its fourth final appearance in five years. The Greenies' previous titles came in 1993 and 1995. "Our getting out to the early lead turned out to be crucial," Newman coach Gerry Mueller said. "But Parkview is a good team and we knew that we'd have to keep playing hard to win. "Offensively, we did a good job of moving the ball and keeping it on the ground. Our defense did a good job of getting back and keeping them from scoring."The playoff loss was Parkview's second in two years to Newman. The Eagles (23-3-4) were eliminated by the Greenies in the quarterfinal round last year. "Newman jumped on us quick," Parkview coach Craig Winchell said. "Our kids worked hard and did a good job of fighting back. But we just ran out of gas. "We talked at the half about the match lasting for 80 minutes. We didn't believe that we were out of it even though we trailed 3-1. It's disappointing to come so far and lose in the finals. But our kids had a great year."Newman took its 1-0 lead five minutes into the match when junior co-captain Brad Sutherlin kicked through a goal from close range. Sutherlin sent the ball into the net just out the reach of Parkview goal keeper Brad Villa. He scored after making a great save to keep the ball from going out. Sutherlin made his save in the left corner of the field off a missed shot by teammate Dwayne Jones. Jones made his attempt as he over ran the ball. The Greenies increased their advantage to 2-0 when junior midfielder Will Walter scored on a header shot from close range 13 minutes later. Walter scored off an assist by Jones. Parkview's Craig Saucier attempted to keep the ball away from his own goal. Jones, a freshman midfielder, scored a disputed goal to give Newman a 3-0 lead 22 minutes into the first half. Parkview players wanted an off-sides call on the play. But the game's linesman allowed the goal to stand. The score by Jones came off an assist by junior co-captain Shaw Joseph. Joseph delivered the pass off a throw in by senior co-captain Blake Huffstutler. Undaunted, Parkview battled back to cut the deficit to 3-1 when junior Nick Brune scored with 10 minutes left until halftime. Brune sent made his shot after working through the Newman defense. His goal came off a throw in by senior Bryson Person. The Eagles came close to cutting the deficit to 3-2 when Brune drilled through an apparent direct free kick goal with three minutes left. However, the game's referee took Brune's goal away. The referee ruled Brune's shot an indirect free kick. The decision resulted from the ball not being touched as required before going through for a goal. Parkview took the second half kick and quickly cut the deficit to 3-2 on a goal from junior Rishi Vyas. He scored after taking a throw in from Bryson Person. Vyas kicked through his goal after one minute had elapsed. It came as both sides waged an intense battle for the ball outside the NHS goal.
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Post by Scott Crawford on Apr 5, 2013 8:30:58 GMT -6
1998 Division II St. Paul’s 2 Baton Rouge 0 at Rebel Field, R.E. Lee February 25, 1998 WOLVES DO IT AGAIN - ST. PAUL'S WINS STATE TITLE SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR, 2-0Times-Picayune, The (New Orleans, LA) - Thursday, February 26, 1998 Author: JIM RAPIER Staff writer BATON ROUGE Same teams as last year, same field and same 0-0 score at halftime. And in fitting form, the same state champion was crowned at Rebel Field in Baton Rouge as St. Paul's got goals from Nick Chetta and Paul Watson and got a great effort from its defense to defeat Baton Rouge High, 2-0, in the Division II title match Wednesday night. Everything seemed scripted for a St. Paul's repeat. The Wolves (19-8-1) wore the same blue-and-gold-striped jerseys, and their first goal was scored by Chetta, who scored first in last year's final. Baton Rouge finished 20-8. "Our team is so superstitious, so we put on the stripes," said Chetta, who got a pass from Watson and sliced his shot past the goalie to the right corner of the goal in the 55th minute. "These jerseys mean a lot. We like this field. Every time we have played here, we have scored." Brother Tim Coldwell, who created the soccer program at St. Paul's and was an assistant on last year's team, said that by halftime he felt he was watching an eerie repeat of last year's match. Then his team, in particular the offense, began to play like more like its usual self in the second half. "The defense has carried us all season," Coldwell said. "They allow our offense to get going. They only gave up one goal in the playoffs. "It was crazy. Same score, same jerseys, same field and same teams. But I was not happy at halftime, and they were unhappy, too, because I don't think they took them serious at first. Baton Rouge played a great game. I think they were better than last year." What Coldwell said Baton Rouge did well was take away the middle of the field. The Bulldogs did it by clearing and passing the ball with long, high, arcing shots down the field. Baton Rouge used the strategy to its advantage because its front-runners were bigger than most of St. Paul's defenders. Whatever St. Paul's lacked in size, it more than made up for with speed, as the Wolves continually chased the long shots down and tried to mount counterattacks. Baton Rouge's strategy worked to create a back-and-forth pace in the first half with very little play at midfield. The Wolves had seven shots and the Bulldogs six by halftime. "We must have been nervous at first," Watson said. "In the second half, we got more of the midfielders in it. We knew we had to work harder to win the midfield." St. Paul's pushed the pace from the outset of the second half, passed the ball more and made strong runs from the back of the field, where its defense was working on its 15th shutout of the season. "The defense slacked off a bit in the first half," St. Paul's goalie James Pye said. "We knew had a good defense this year, but it was a matter of time before we put it all together." Chetta's goal was the result of a good pass from midfield to Watson at the top of the penalty box. With his back to the goal and two defenders crowding him, Watson spotted Chetta running down the left side and swiped a pass over to Chetta, who one-touched his shot past Bulldogs goalie Nick Stolzfus. "Someone played Paul the ball, and I saw this big hole on the side of the field I really like," Chetta said. "Paul passed it to me, and I saw that the goalie was offline." St. Paul's continued to mount more pressure in the Baton Rouge zone, and Bulldogs coach Jake Vezinat said his team began to wilt. "It was our plan to knock the ball long in the first half," Vezinat said. "In the second half, we pushed it, but we couldn't get players behind it. We ran out of legs, and they had a bigger bench." Watson put an exclamation point on the victory when he dribble around two defenders and beat Stolzfus with a shot in the 79th minute. St. Paul's had seven shots on goal and the Bulldogs four in the second half. Wolves repeat as Division II State ChampsSt. Tammany News (Covington, LA) - Thursday, February 26, 1998 Author: T. J. Bulliard / The News Banner / February 26, 1998 "It simply feels great, just great," were the first words spoken by St. Paul head soccer coach Bro. Tim Coldwell as his Wolves defeated Baton Rouge High School, 2-0, and captured the Division II State Soccer Championship Wednesday night in Baton Rouge. It was the second for the Wolves in as many years. "I would be lying if I said I really thought we could do it," Coldwell said. "But it was dedication and committment that got it for us." The similarities between last year's victory and this year's are astounding. The Wolves chose to wear the same uniforms they wore last year, they played the same team, in the same stadium, with the same referees, won by the same score and the two goals were scored by the same players. After opening the game sluggish, the Wolves began to attack in the second half and finally broke the scoring drought 15 minutes into the half when Nick Chetta took saw and opening and fired the shot from 30 yard out to put St. Paul on top, 1-0. "Chetta has a deadeye for the goal when he sees and opening," Coldwell said. "And when you play against a good goalkeeper like Baton Rouge has, you're not going to get too many open shots." And the statistics show Coldwell was correct. St. Paul took 11 shots-on-goal to the Bulldogs' nine in game that speed was the key. Baton Rouge was much larger team than the Wolves, but St. Paul was quicker, and according to Coldwell, "Baton Rouge is a super team that likes to keep the ball in the air. The key to our success tonight was our speed and keeping the ball on the ground where we could control the tempo and pace of the game." St. Paul's second score came with just 15 seconds remaining to play as Paul Watson dribbled past four Cougar defenders and sailed a bullet past Baton Rouge goalkeeper Nick Stolzfus and iced the game for the Wolves. Afterwards, when asked to comment on Watson's dribbling and determination to get a score, Coldwell simply said, "that was Watson just being Watson." St. Paul thus completes the 1998 season with a 19-8-1 record, while Baton Rouge, losing its third championship in a row, end the season at 20-8-0.
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Post by Scott Crawford on Apr 5, 2013 8:38:56 GMT -6
1998 Division III February 28, 1998 St. Louis Catholic St. Louis 3 Newman 1 ST. LOUIS BEATS NEWMAN FOR TITLETimes-Picayune, The (New Orleans, LA) - Sunday, March 1, 1998 Author: JIM RAPIER Staff writer LAKE CHARLES When St. Louis coach Jason Oertling begins to enjoy his offseason after what he said has been a "stressful" year, he can do it with a smile. On Saturday, his team won its second consecutive state championship trophy by defeating Newman, 3-1, in the Division III final. The Saints (28-5-2) won in conventional fashion. They used a suffocating defense, particularly in the second half, and scored goals off set plays to defeat Newman (14-2), which lost its second title match in three years. "I am relaxing, finally," Oertling said. "It has been very stressful this season just defending the state championship, because every time we have stepped on the field every team has been out to knock us off. Looking back, it feels gratifying. It was tough, but if all of them were easy, it wouldn't mean as much." If the season was stressful for Oertling, then the first 29 minutes of the title match must have joggled his nerves a bit. After allowing a couple shots on goal early, Newman controlled the pace of the first half and had outshot the Saints 6-2. Greenies coach Gerald Mueller said he was concerned about St. Louis scoring off throw-ins and corner kicks. But Mueller's defense had successfully countered such plays by dropping defenseman back toward the goal to guard the net as the goalie charged out to catch or punch the ball. The strategy worked until the 30th minute. A St. Louis corner kick was deflected toward the goal, and Newman's Travis Goodman, who had dropped back on defense, attempted to clear the ball with a hard kick. His shot never made it out of the goalie box. St. Louis' Aaron Long, who was charging the goal, turned to shield himself from Goodman's clearing shot. The ball bounced off him into the net. "It was my job to stay near the goal and if anything came out put it in," said Long, who did not know he had scored until he heard everybody cheering and turned around to see the ball in the goal. "I just put my body in front of it. I thought it had gone over the goal. It was just being in the right place at the right time." Newman managed two shots on goal in the first six minutes of the second half, but St. Louis, led by Chris Shearman, did not allow another shot until the 64th minute. In the 57th minute, Newman was called for a hand ball on a St. Louis corner kick, and Nik Fusilier made the penalty kick to make the score 2-0. "They outran us today," Mueller said. "We couldn't build the wings on offense. We played good defensively, but that fluke goal and then the penalty kick killed us. We played them even except for that." "The key was speed," Shearman said. "They were skillful, but we were faster. We marked them tight on defense and played aggressive to the ball. When we couldn't win it in the middle, we won it outside." Fusilier made the score 3-0 when his throw-in in the 63rd minute was deflected by a Newman player into the goal.
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Post by Scott Crawford on Apr 5, 2013 8:51:35 GMT -6
1998 Division I February 28, 1998 Mighty Lion Stadium, Lafayette Acadiana 1 Lafayette 0
Acadiana defends title, tops Lafayette - Angelle's score lifts Rams, 1-0 The Advocate (Baton Rouge, La.) - Sunday, March 1, 1998 Author: MITCH WILLIAMS Acadiana High boys soccer coach Glenn Laviolette sent a message to his club during the first practice of the season.
That's when Laviolette handed out bright yellow T-shirts with a distinctive green target on the front. The shirts with school colors signified not only Acadiana's new-found role as defending Division I state champions, but realizing a higher standard of play the Rams had to live up to.
Acadiana handled the challenges and pressure. The Rams completed a second straight Division I championship season with a 1-0 victory over cross-town rival Lafayette High on Saturday before a crowd of 3,000 at Lafayette's Mighty Lion Stadiums.
It was Acadiana's third win of the year over Lafayette. The Rams (28-2-2) are ranked fourth nationally and second in the coaches statewide poll.
"Elation would be a good word," Laviolette said when asked of his feelings. "You dream about this. We gave those T-shirts because they were the state champions and I'm proud they stood up to everyone."
For the first time in Lafayette Parish history, two local teams competed against one another in a state championship event. And in this case, it was a battle of two fierce rivals whose campuses are three miles apart.
"It was a great match," Laviolette said. "These kids have either been playing together or against one another for years. Soccer fans in this area won today."
Following a scoreless first half, Acadiana provided the eventual margin midway through the final 40 minutes.
The Rams, taking advantage of a strong north wind, relied on Justin Angelle's goal at the 53:10 mark of the match and a strong defensive effort to make it stand up.
Angelle, often overshadowed on an Acadiana squad with a strong senior class, took a long pass from Doug Bakeler, split two defenders and beat Lafayette goalkeeper Ryan Gummer to the right corner.
"I could see the ball coming over my head," said Angelle, who also scored the only goal in a 1-0 Rams' win over the Lions earlier in the year. "I just wanted to get it before it hit the ground and before he (defender) got to me."
"They got the one opportunity," said Lafayette soccer coach Jim Simon, "and the kid (Angelle) made a nice shot. I'm very proud of these kids. They've been discounted the whole year. But they made believers out of a lot of people."
The offensive chances for Lafayette (23-6) were few and far between in the second half. The Lions were outshot 6-5 in the opening half. Chris Fung took a rebound after Shelly Gupta'a corner kick, but sent a shot sailing wide left of Acadiana goalkeeper Matt Walker, who finished with seven saves.
The Rams' defensive effort, keyed by Jeremy and Jason Manafi and Paul LeBlanc, was solid in the second half. AHS kept Fung, the Lions' top threat, under wraps.
"I thought the defense was great," said Laviolette. "Those three back there are all personal friends off the field and that's a key.
P.J. (LeBlanc) was the key. He went everywhere the ball went. He did a super job of being first to the ball."
Acadiana, which outshot Lafayete 17-6 for the game and 11-0 in the second half, nearly put the game out of reach, but leading scorer Josh Vidrine misfired twice from point-blank range off the right post.
"We have six starters back next year," Laviolette said when asked of a three-peat. "We never talked about repeating this year. It was a different team and you start from zero and build up. We're going to tell the next group the same thing."
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Post by Scott Crawford on Apr 5, 2013 9:02:23 GMT -6
1996 Division II February 17, 1996 Caddo Parish Stadium Loyola 2 Baton Rouge 1
BRHS facing tough Loyola The Advocate (Baton Rouge, La.) - Thursday, February 15, 1996 Baton Rouge High will travel to Shreveport to play Loyola in the Division II soccer final on Saturday.
The Division II final is set for 1 p.m. at Captain Shreve. Loyola is 18-2. Baton Rouge High is 17-6-5.
Both teams advanced by taking semifinal victories on Tuesday. Loyola defeated Northshore, 6-5, in a shootout. Baton Rouge High claimed a 3-1 overtime victory over St. Thomas More.
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Post by Scott Crawford on Apr 5, 2013 9:16:59 GMT -6
1994 Division II February 19, 1994 Woodlawn BR Bishop Sullivan 1 Vandebilt 0
Sullivan savors state soccer title: Warriors use heads to strong-arm crown from Vandebilt, 1-0 The Advocate (Baton Rouge, La.) - Sunday, February 20, 1994 Author: KEN SHELL After just six years of fielding a team in the sport so demanding of a players legs and feet, Bishop Sullivan on Saturday relied instead on the arms of Danny Owens and the head of Mark Comish to deliver the Warriors their first Division II state soccer championship.
With 25 minutes gone in the second half, Owens found Comish in front of the Vandebilt goal with a 35-yard throw-in pass that Comish headed into the net, breaking a scoreless tie and lifting Bishop Sullivan to a 1-0 title-game victory.
Bishop Sullivan's championship season ends with a 22-4-1 record. Vandebilt Catholic lost for the seventh time this season, against 16 wins and two ties.
"I knew we were going to score on that play," Owens said. "I just had a feeling. I was trying to line-drive it in there toward the far post and Mark Comish made a great play on it."
Comish muscled his way into position to receive Owens' bullet before leaping into the air and redirecting it into the net.
"I had to jump over one man to get to it, but really I was just trying to get a head on it," Comish said. "It was kind of a lucky shot."
Maybe, but a little luck is what both teams were searching for - the play capped 60-plus minutes of action that featured the frustrating combination of aggressive defense and impotent offense.
"We work on that play a lot. Danny line-drives his throw and they have to go up and get it," Bishop Sullivan coach Scott Fontenot said. "But Danny's the only one who knows who it's going to."
Owens and Bishop Sullivan had used the play in previous playoff victories as well, most recently in its 2-1 semifinal victory over St. Thomas More last week.
Vandebilt took control early and kept it throughout most of the first half, winning the ball consistently at mid-field and rarely allowing Bishop Sullivan's offense any significant penetration.
The Terriers held the attention of Bishop Sullivan goalkeeper Sean McCearley for most of the first half, launching twice as many shots as the Warriors. McCearley finished the day with 14 saves in ringing up his 12th shutout of the season.
The Warriors' best chance to score came just before the half when Owens sprinted up the middle and through the Terriers defense toward the goal. But before he could launch a shot, just five yards out, he was caught from behind by three Terrier defenders who broke up the play.
When the break came, Fontenot was at no loss of things to discuss with his team.
"I cleaned a little hide out of them at halftime," Fontenot admitted. "We kind of walked into this game sleeping. We were relaxed and that's good, but we were too relaxed. We weren't ready for those guys to come out as aggressively as they did.
"The second half was kind of like a flip-flop, though. We played much better."
To the extent that both teams couldn't convert offensively, the first 25 minutes of the second half actually mirrored the events of the first half. But Bishop Sullivan played more aggressively with the ball, as well as at midfield, and shots on goal were split evenly between both teams in the second half.
"There were missed opportunities on both sides," Vandebilt coach John Telford said. "The first half could have gone either way, and really the whole game was like that. At any time, we could have come back. We just didn't take advantages of the opportunities we had to score."
Telford cited a season-long inability on the part of his Terriers to convert the labor of an aggressive offense into the fruits of goals scored.
"Yeah, we've had that problem all year," Telford said. "We're scoring only 50 percent of what we have in previous years.
"But I'm proud that they got as far as they did. It was a lot of kids with a lot of heart and a lot of guts out there today. We just came up a little short."
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Post by Scott Crawford on Apr 5, 2013 9:26:12 GMT -6
1999 Division II February 24, 1999 Hunter Stadium, St. Paul's Woodlawn BR 5 St. Paul's 1 (OT)
Woodlawn wins championship in overtime, 5-1 The Advocate (Baton Rouge, La.) - Thursday, February 25, 1999 Author: TIRCUIT For Woodlawn coach Eric England, winning a state soccer championship is as good as it gets.
"We played the best 20 minutes that I have ever seen," England seen after watching his Purple Panthers (28-4-1) capture a 5-1 overtime victory Wednesday night over two-time defending state champion St. Paul's (12-9-4).
Woodlawn scored four goals in the two overtime periods to secure the victory at St. Paul's Hunter Stadium.
The win avenged two straight quarterfinal losses to St. Paul's, including a 2-0 loss to the Wolves last season.
St. Paul's defeated Baton Rouge High in the state championship each of the last two seasons. The Wolves had won eight titles during the 1990s.
Woodlawn broke a 1-all tie to take a 2-1 advantage when junior midfielder Ross Davis kicked his first of two goals two minutes into the first overtime.
The Panthers increased their advantage to 3-1 when junior forward T.J. Light drilled through a goal with 2:30 to go in the first 10-minute overtime.
Two minutes into the second overtime, Davis kicked his final goal to give Woodlawn a 4-1 lead. A late penalty by senior midfielder Clay Lejeune provided the Panthers with their final margin.
"I don't see how our kids could have played any better than they did in overtime. They wanted to win and were determined not to let anything stop them," England said.
The Panthers took a 1-0 lead when senior midfielder Marc Roussell kicked a goal four minutes into the match. Woodlawn's lead held up at the half, although St. Paul's appeared to set the tempo most of the way.
The Wolves finally tied the score at 1 when junior forward Garrett Greene kicked a goal with eight minutes remaining in regulation. His goal seemed to give St. Paul's a lift, but Woodlawn held on the rest of the way thanks to a clutch save by goalkeeper Garrett Hebert with time running out.
"We talked all year about getting into the championship final and winning," England said. "The kids were a little down after St. Paul's tied the match, but they kept their poise and came back to win."England's father died this past August. The coach told his team about a conversation with his father after last year's quarterfinal loss to St. Paul's.
"Dad told me that we'd come back over here and beat them for the title," he said. "He was one of our biggest fans and I can't help thinking that he was watching and pulling for us."Davis took eight shots driving through for goals. The Panthers took 23 shots during the game.
"We came out and took the lead by playing aggressive," Davis said. "It was anybody's match after they came back and tied the score. But we didn't quit and worked hard to win."Light had seven shots, scoring once. "I don't remember much about the goal," he said. "The only thing on my mind" was not letting the opportunity to score get away.
Hebert had 13 saves in 14 attempts as the Woodlawn goalie.
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Post by Scott Crawford on Apr 5, 2013 10:05:08 GMT -6
2000 Division III Boys February 26, 2000 Caddo Stadium Parkview Baptist 2 Loyola 1 (OT)
Parkview Baptist to face Loyola for soccer crown The Advocate (Baton Rouge, La.) - Saturday, February 26, 2000 Author: ROBIN FAMBROUGH Loyola Prep soccer coach Shelly McMillian said she doesn't have a scouting report on Parkview Baptist. McMillian has never seen the Eagles play. Nonetheless, McMillian said she had a feeling Parkview would be the team Shreveport-based Loyola would face for the Division III boys soccer title.
Today McMillian's "gut instinct" becomes a reality. Loyola (27-5) plays host to Parkview Baptist (21-4) at 2 p.m. at Shreveport's Caddo Stadium at Captain Shreve High.
"I can't tell you why I felt that way," McMillian said. "For about three months I had a feeling that if anybody could beat (defending state champion) Newman, it would be Parkview. It was like a gut instinct.
"Other than that, I can't tell you a whole lot about Parkview. I do know they have to be good or they wouldn't be here."The teams don't have a playoff history with each other. But they do have one with Newman, the top-ranked team Parkview defeated 1-0 in last week's quarterfinal round.
Newman defeated Loyola 2-1 in the semifinal round last season and then took a 4-2 win over Parkview in the Division III title match.
Loyola has a history with another local team. The Shreveport school defeated Baton Rouge High in the Division II title match in 1996 and then lost to BRHS in the semifinals in 1997.
Today's contest represents a different challenge for both teams. Loyola was ranked third in the final Louisiana High School Soccer Coaches Association poll. Parkview was fourth.
Parkview advanced with a 3-2 shootout win over St. Louis, while Loyola downed Metairie Park Country Day 1-0.
"My motto for the kids right now is "It's like one, two, three now,' " Parkview coach Craig Winchell said. "First, we beat Newman and they were ranked No. 1. Then we beat St. Louis and they were second. Now we play Loyola and they're third.
"I don't have a lot of specific information on them (the Flyers), but I can tell you it will be sort of like playing a combination of Newman and St. Louis.
"Newman was taller and played more of a possession game and St. Louis wanted to push the pace more. From what I understand, they (the Flyers) can do both."McMillian agrees with Winchell's assessment.
"Defense is our strong point," McMillian said. "We don't have any superstars. We work to play solid defense and then we do a good job controlling the ball in the middle third and the attack third of the field."Both teams enter the contest with balanced scoring. Ryan McCearley has 27 goals and 19 assists to lead Parkview. McCearly was named Louisiana's Gatorade Circle of Champions Player of the Year earlier this week.
Major Person is next with 16 goals and nine assists, followed by Neil Ferrari with 14 goals and nine assists.
Jon Goodwin leads Loyola with 27 goals. Wes Kyle has 23 goals, followed by Stephen Slack with 21 goals.
Parkview's Winchell said his team had hoped to host the title match. That was not possible, because of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association's alternating home-and-away system. However, any disappointment quickly turned to anticipation.
"This is a chance they've wanted since last year," Winchell said. "We're excited."
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Post by Scott Crawford on Apr 5, 2013 10:13:12 GMT -6
2000 Division I Boys February 26, 2000 Pan American Stadium Brother Martin 3 Jesuit 0
BLUE JAYS, CRUSADERS BRACE FOR SHOWDOWNTimes-Picayune, The (New Orleans, LA) - Saturday, February 26, 2000 Author: Trey Iles Staff writer Making an impact on the national high school scene has been difficult for Louisiana schools. For example, in the USA Today prep baseball preview last week, one Louisiana team (Barbe of Lake Charles) was ranked in the Top 25. Evangel Christian of Shreveport was ranked at the top of most high school football polls last season. Southwood is ranked seventh in the USA Today's girls basketball Top 25, and Southern Lab is No. 19 in the boys poll in that newspaper. Today, however, two ranked teams will meet to decide a championship. And it's not football they will play; it is soccer . Times have changed. When Jesuit soccer coach Gary Ortner moved to the New Orleans area about 15 years ago from Virginia, he said the soccer played here was a few levels down from other parts of the country. Growing up in New Iberia, Brother Martin coach Alan Deritter, a 1981 graduate of New Iberia High, said soccer didn't exist in his hometown. "I was soccer in New Iberia," Deritter said with a laugh. The two have seen soccer in Louisiana -- and more specifically, this area -- evolve rapidly since the 1980s. When Brother Martin and Jesuit meet for the Division I boys state soccer title today at 2 p.m. at Pan American Stadium, it likely will be before a near-capacity crowd with two of the best teams in the nation. Jesuit (28-1-1), the defending state champion, is ranked third in the nation by the National Soccer Coaches Association, and Brother Martin (33-3-2), playing in its first state soccer championship, is ninth. Times, indeed, have changed in this area. Football still is king, but soccer has vastly improved in the last 15 years. And college soccer coaches are noticing. "I remember when I first became head coach seven years ago, no (college) coaches would be interested in any of our players," Deritter said. "They'd tell me not to call unless the player was 6-foot-2, 190 pounds and ran the 40 in less than 5.0 seconds. This year, we'll have five or six kids sign." Deritter and Ortner said a big reason for the improved soccer and soccer players in the area is how the players' minds have changed. Jesuit senior midfielder Bart Bacigalupi is a good example. Bacigalupi started playing soccer when he was 4. He also played baseball and other youth-league sports. But when he was 10, it was time to make a decision. He went with soccer . "I picked soccer because it's more intense than baseball," Bacigalupi said. "Baseball is just sitting around. You run maybe 10 yards a game. It's ( soccer ) just so much more fun and physical." Ortner, who has led Jesuit to six state championship games in seven years as the Blue Jays coach, said that because players are starting at a younger age, they're bringing much better skills with them to high school. "They come to high school, and they're prepared to play," Ortner said. "To be honest, we don't work on the technical part of the game as much as we do the tactical part. They're technically sound when they get to high school." The teams have split two games and tied a third this season. The teams have played a combined 270 minutes against each other this season and allowed only two goals. "This is a showcase for soccer ," Deritter said. "When people see this game, they'll see two very good teams with great skills and great systems. I think they'll be impressed."
DISTRICT RIVALS SHARE RESPECT - BROTHER MARTIN, JESUIT FIGHT HARD TO THE FINISHTimes-Picayune, The (New Orleans, LA) - Sunday, February 27, 2000 Author: Jim Rapier Staff writer Muhammad Ali had his Joe Frazier and vice versa, and this year Brother Martin had its Jesuit and vice-versa. Saturday at Pan American Stadium, the two heavyweights of Division I state boys soccer , who both happen to be nationally ranked and play in District 10-I together, played for the fourth time this season. This time for the state title. Regardless of the victor -- Brother Martin unseated defending state champion Jesuit -- the game said a lot about the teams' relationship this season. "I was hoping all along they would make it to the finals and we would play them," Jesuit's P.J. Kee said. "It was a perfect state final. It just didn't end perfect for us." In the three games during the season, Brother Martin won one (ending the Blue Jays' 52-game unbeaten streak), Jesuit won one (to claim the district title) and they tied in the other. In the end it seemed they needed each other to play their best. Following a hard-fought title game, opposing players, many of whom play together on summer club teams, were hugging. Said Kee's friend and Brother Martin player Dirk Mullen: "I know the whole Jesuit team because of club ball and grammar school. In a game like this you hate to see somebody lose. We played our game and they played theirs' and it was tough because we know each other so well. All along I wanted to play them in the finals." Familiarity and mutual respect was rampant. "They are more physical and stronger, and it made a difference," Jesuit coach Garry Ortner said. "But they didn't do anything we didn't expect. ... This is a tough loss, but (Brother Martin coach) Alan (DeRitter) is a good friend, and if I had to lose to anybody, then I'd want it to be to him. He runs a class program. He doesn't get the credit he deserves." Sensing how big the game was and the emotionally charged environment his team would encounter playing such a big rival, DeRitter said he tried not to let emotions get in the way. But given a little time to reflect, even he admitted a little pride in the opponent and Brother Martin's first state title in soccer . "We're all friends," DeRitter said. "We were hoping it would be Jesuit. There is really nothing to compare to our district, and we're not the only good teams. We beat the benchmark team for years today, but it won't mark the end of their runs."
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Post by Scott Crawford on Apr 5, 2013 10:18:56 GMT -6
2000 Division II Boys February 23, 2000 Woodlawn Baton Rouge St. Paul's 3 Woodlawn BR 2 (OT)
ST. PAUL'S WINS DIVISION II TITLE - GOAL IN OVERTIME STOPS WOODLAWNTimes-Picayune, The (New Orleans, LA) - Thursday, February 24, 2000 Author: Jim Rapier, Staff writer St. Paul's coach Brother Tim Coldwell had to be pinching himself. Here he was almost a year to the day of last year's Division II state final game against Woodlawn, with his team playing in the title game again against the same opponent, and for the second consecutive season the game was headed to overtime. But this time around, St. Paul's found overtime to be sweet, as Raymond Rolling scored off a header in the eighth minute of the second 10-minute overtime to give the Wolves a 3-2 victory and their third Division II state championship in four years. Woodlawn (17-7-3) defeated St. Paul's on the Wolves' home field last season. "It was a lot of these guys, who have won two playoff games by one goal having something in themselves that I did not instill," Coldwell said. "They are determined, don't doubt themselves and believe they can win." After St. Paul's (19-8-2) almost took the lead with close shots in the first 10-minute overtime, Rolling provided the winner when he got his head on a loose ball from a deflected shot. "It bounced around, I think Garrett Greene got a foot on it, then Tim (Carty) kicked it twice and keeper stopped it both times," Rolling said. "I was just there waiting for it." Somehow the teams managed to top last year's game in only one half of play. After a scoreless first half, the Wolves and Panthers scored four goals in the second half, with the Wolves never able to keep a one-goal lead for long. Scott Dieffenbaugher gave St. Paul's a 1-0 lead in the 51st minute when he hit a loose ball in the box past the keeper. Woodlawn scored in the 59th minute when Ross Davis headed a corner kick past a diving James Pye. St. Paul's appeared to pull the game out when Wes Kungel collected a deflection of his shot in the goalie box and scored in the 78th minute. But Woodlawn answered in the last minute of the game when T.J. Light headed a throw-in that bounced off the right post. The first 10-minute overtime belonged to St. Paul's. The Wolves had four shots on goal, including one that bounced off the right post and another that bounced off the cross bar. Woodlawn seemed a step quicker in the first half and had more and better shots on goal than St. Paul's. Woodlawn outshot the Wolves, 7-4, in the first 40 minutes. James Pye kept the game scoreless with two point-blank saves and five total in the half. The first of his saves occurred in the first three minutes of the game when a Woodlawn player had a shot from 8 yards on the right side of the box. St. Paul's did mount some good runs at the goal in the first half and had three corner kicks. The Wolves best scoring chance came on a scoring piece that featured two headers after a throw-in. Woodlawn keeper Garrett Hiebert made a juggling save to prevent the goal.
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Post by Scott Crawford on Apr 5, 2013 11:14:48 GMT -6
2001 Division I Boys February 28, 2001 Tad Gormley Stadium Brother Martin 1 Acadiana 0
Crusaders, Cubs take state titles - Brother Martin repeats BROTHER MARTIN 1, ACADIANA 0Times-Picayune, The (New Orleans, LA) - Thursday, March 1, 2001 Author: Jim Rapier Staff writer No, it was not the same Brother Martin team Acadiana had faced earlier in the season. As Acadiana coach Mark Hopkins watched Brother Martin celebrate its second consecutive boys Division I state soccer championship with a 1-0 victory against his team Wednesday night at Tad Gormley Stadium, he offered a summation. "They (Brother Martin) come together at the end of the year," said Hopkins, whose team had defeated the Crusaders 5-1 earlier in the season. "We expected a tough match, maybe a 1-0 match. We just were on the short end of it." "We knew we weren't playing well coming into the playoffs," said Brother Martin's George Bell, whose goal in the 60th minute provided the victory. "We were second in district. We had a team meeting at my house and came together and decided to step up our play." The meeting worked. Brother Martin (29-5-2) consistently used its formula for success in the postseason by not allowing a goal in five playoff matches and winning four matches 1-0. It produced a one-goal mantra, and with the title game scoreless at halftime, the talk in the Crusaders' locker room was only one goal would be needed, Brother Martin goaltender Kenny Eastin said. Bell provided the goal when got the ball at midfield and streaked down the left sideline. After shaking a trailing defender in the Acadiana box, Bell scored when his shot from a sharp angle on the left side deflected off the hands of Rams goaltender J.D. Angelle and trickled into the goal. "I was going for the cross," Bell said. "It wasn't the prettiest, but it went in. One goal is all we have needed in the playoffs." With its one-goal lead, Brother Martin's defense increased its intensity in what was shaping up as a dominating performance. The Crusaders limited Acadiana (23-6-1) to no shots on goal in the first half and two for the game. On one of the few good opportunitites the Rams had to score, Eastin made a diving save near the lip of the box. Eastin smiled when reminded of Acadiana's five goals against the Crusaders the first time they played this season. "It was one of our first games of the season," Eastin said. "We knew we had to work together and come together." That hard work produced a successful title defense for Brother Martin. "It is totally different from the first time," Brother Martin coach Alan DeRitter said. "Defending the title is different than winning the first one. It is not the same. . . . It really hasn't sunk in yet. Maybe tomorrow it will sink in." About the only thing that did sink in, according to Hopkins, was Brother Martin had come a long way this season, and the final product was as tough as expected. Brother Martin looking for repeat - Crusaders to meet Acadiana for crown Times-Picayune, The (New Orleans, LA) - Wednesday, February 28, 2001 Author: Jim Rapier Staff writer Soccer player Danny Heine and his Brother Martin teammates likely had something else on their minds besides Mardi Gras the past few days. "It doesn't mean that much to me this year," said Heine, a senior captain. "Mardi Gras is always here. This is the state championship, and it is my last year. I want the state championship." Heine and the Crusaders get that chance tonight when Brother Martin plays Acadiana in the Division I state soccer championship game at Tad Gormley Stadium at 7 p.m. Brother Martin (28-5-2) has had somewhat of a torturous wait for this game since it defeated Lafayette in the semifinals six days ago. Not only do seniors like Heine want to go out on a winning note, there is also the pride factor. Brother Martin has come to the final chapter of a season in which it is the defending Division I champion looking to repeat. Being one step from a successful conclusion has the team eager. Heine confessed he was ready to play the game Monday after practice. He wasn't the only one. "Mardi Gras was a pleasant distraction until we had practice Monday," Crusaders coach Alan DeRitter said. "Then I was ready." Brother Martin will have to be ready for Acadiana (23-5-1), says DeRitter, who scouted the Rams at last week's semifinal victory against Jesuit. The Rams are playing in their fourth championship match in five years and last won the title in 1998. Their offense, with its fast strikers, offers one of the best strategic matchups of this year's final. In four playoff games, Brother Martin's defense, led by Heine, Ricky Gauthier, Andrew Cassara and Alex Hamilton, has not allowed a goal. Acadiana has scored at least two goals in every playoff game, 12 goals in four playoff games, and given up only three goals. Brother Martin's George Bell, meanwhile, has scored goals in the Crusaders' past two games. "Before the game we (defense) tell the rest of the team to give us one goal," Heine said. "We will get a lot of action back there. It doesn't matter to me what the score is as long as we win. I think we match up pretty well. When it comes to soccer you do not win just because you are fast. You have to have the ball at your feet." And you must have the right mental approach, DeRitter emphasized. "I feel if my team plays hungry and with an extreme amount of passion, we should have a good chance to win," DeRitter said. "We have to focus, play our best and don't do something to lose it. If someone is going to beat you, then you want them to be the better team, not because you played poorly."
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Post by Scott Crawford on Apr 5, 2013 11:51:32 GMT -6
2001 Division III Boys March 1, 2001 Tad Gormley Stadium Newman 2 St. Martin's 0Newman doubles up with championships - Boys dominate St. Martin's again Times-Picayune, The (New Orleans, LA) - Friday, March 2, 2001 Author: Lori Lyons Staff writer Speed kills. It also wins state championships. The Newman boys soccer team proved that Thursday, taking a 2-0 victory from rival St. Martin's in the Division III state championship match at Tad Gormley Stadium. With speedsters Dwayne Jones and Chris Arnold up front and goalie Britton Chauvin providing the backup, the Greenies (17-2-1) ran away with their second state championship in three years. Arnold broke a 0-0 stalemate 1:30 into the second half by heading a pass from the corner into the goal. Then, 24 minutes later, Jones, who was selected the game's Most Outstanding Player, scored a breakaway goal to make it 2-0. The rest was up to Chauvin, who made several impressive saves to preserve the victory and the shutout. "He covered all the angles and covered the corners," Newman coach Gerry Meuller said. "Britton did a great job." "He was the difference in the game," St. Martin's coach Julio Paiz said. "He had at least three saves that I thought for sure were in the net." Even Jones was impressed. "You couldn't ask our defense to play any better," he said. "The key to the win was our tough defense." The key also was the speed of forwards Jones and Arnold, who simply outran the Saints. Both had several breakaways among Newman's many scoring opportunities. St. Martin's had three shots on goal in the first half and five in the second, making Thursday's game nearly a carbon copy of January's district championship match. "I give Newman all the credit," said Paiz, who took the Saints (24-2-1) to their second state championship match appearance in five seasons. "It was very hard-fought. We put up a good fight, it just wasn't enough today. In the first half, we were more compact and did a pretty good job of shutting down their two front guys. In the second half, we had to open it up a little more to try to press forward." "It's not devastatingly disappointing," Saints senior Rhett Kleinschmidt said. "We had a good season. We worked really hard to get here, and we're really proud of that. It was a great run." Saints, Greenies battle for titleTimes-Picayune, The (New Orleans, LA) - Thursday, March 1, 2001 Author: Lori Lyons Staff writer When Julio Paiz took over the St. Martin's boys soccer program five years ago, he had no idea about the scope of the rivalry between his new school and that Uptown institution known as Newman. But over the years, he has learned. "It's do or die," Paiz said. "It's to the point where kids at our school won't even wear green." And this season has done nothing but add fuel to this fire. All winter the two schools have been jockeying for the No. 1 spot in the Division III state poll. (Newman finished on top, with St. Martin's right behind.) And five weeks ago, the two met for the District 9-III championship, with Newman prevailing 3-0. Today the stakes are much higher. St. Martin's (24-1-1) and Newman (16-2-1) will meet today at 4 p.m. at Tad Gormley Stadium in the state championship match. Newman will try to win its second state championship in three years. St. Martin's will try to win its first state title in its second final appearance in five years.
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Post by Scott Crawford on Apr 5, 2013 13:08:53 GMT -6
2002 Division III February 22, 2002 Tad Gormley Stadium St. Martin's 3 St. Louis 1St. Martin’s takes Division III title over St. Louis Catholic Times-Picayune, The (New Orleans, LA) - Saturday, February 23, 2002 Author: Jim Rapier Staff writer St. Martin’s soccer player Ben Lusk usually is noticed for his defensive play from his sweeper position, the last defender before the goalkeeper. But every one of St. Martin’s goals Friday at Tad Gormley Stadium started with Lusk and his long-range kicking accuracy. Lusk helped set up two goals on headers by Wheeler Graf and one by Juan Mendez to give St. Martin’s a 3-1 victory against St. Louis Catholic in the boys Division III state championship game. St. Martin’s (20-0-3), which won its first state soccer championship, scored all of its goals on set pieces, which began with free kicks from Lusk. When St. Martin’s played in its first title game in 1997, it lost to St. Louis (27-6-2), and three of St. Louis’ four goals that day came off of set pieces. "All year long we have worked on set pieces," St. Martin’s coach Julio Paiz said. "We know they will make or break you. This is just a great feeling. We -- the team, myself and my assistant coaches -- have worked so hard to accomplish this." In the 10th minute, Lusk sent a long kick from the left wing toward the far post of the goal. Graf, who was selected the game’s Most Outstanding Player, headed the ball diagonally past the keeper. St. Louis tied the match when Jud Norman scored in the 20th minute, but the Lusk-to-Graf combination struck again for a goal five minutes before halftime to make the score 2-1. "I knew they (teammates) were making runs on the free kicks to the back post, and I tried to get the ball there," Lusk said. "Our second goal was huge. It swung the momentum." "We have worked on those plays numerous times in practice," said Graf, whose two goals gave him 40 for the season. "Ben (Lusk) kicked the ball perfect each time." St. Martin’s outshot St. Louis 13-10 and capitalized on another chance to score in the second half. Mendez scored St. Martin’s third goal by chesting in a loose ball after Eric DeRoche headed another Lusk free kick off the crossbar in the 54th minute. "They had three real chances at our goal and took care of each one of them," St. Louis coach Jason Oertling said. "St. Martin’s just played their set pieces perfect."
St. Martin’s ‘gets back to Gormley’ - Saints seek to take that ultimate step Times-Picayune, The (New Orleans, LA) - Friday, February 22, 2002 Author: Jim Rapier Staff writer When Julio Paiz became a boys soccer coach at St. Martin’s eight years ago, he noticed there were no banners for the soccer team hanging in the gym. The Saints had never made it as far as the playoff semifinals. Six years into Paiz’s tenure, St. Martin’s has two Division III runner-up banners. The school has banners but not the banner. "Maybe I have become complacent," Paiz said. "We will play in our third title game in six years and have a couple of banners now, and that has been very satisfying. But we can’t fall back on that. We want the bigger banner now, the one that says state champions." The Saints get that opportunity at 4 p.m. today, when they play St. Louis Catholic in the Division III state championship match at Tad Gormley Stadium. The game is a rematch of St. Martin’s first appearance in the final in 1997, which St. Louis won 4-0. The Saints lost to Newman in last year’s final. Senior forwards Wheeler Graf and Beau Ordemann said those two losses serve as inspiration. "We’ve had team meetings about this match," Graf said. "This is the only chance we (11 seniors) have left to win the title, so everybody has to step it up. Being there is great, but being second is not a great feeling. It motivates me." Graf, Ordemann and their teammates have stepped up their play. Graf has scored 38 goals and has 11 assists, Ordemann has scored 32 goals and has 23 assists. Midfielder Juan Mendez has 18 assists and goalkeeper Mark Tessier has allowed 10 goals in 22 games. St. Martin’s is 19-0-3 and has outscored its playoff opponents 15-0 in three matches. The Saints have had tunnel vision. "It was the goal we set at the beginning of the season: Get back to Gormley," Ordemann said. "This is the seniors’ last game. The school has never won a title in soccer . It is a chance to achieve something." As successful and focused as St. Martin’s has been this year, Paiz said he wants one more thing from his team, having learned from the past. "I want them to enjoy it more," he said. "I don’t want them too tense, but I want them to know what they are going into and to be ready." Paiz would also like to ready the gym for a bigger soccer banner.
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Post by Scott Crawford on Apr 5, 2013 13:20:27 GMT -6
2002 Division I February 23, 2002 Tad Gormley Stadium Jesuit 3 Brother Martin 0Jesuit, Mount Carmel take championships - Blue Jays’ pressure stifles Crusaders in shutout win JESUIT 3, BROTHER MARTIN 0Times-Picayune, The (New Orleans, LA) - Sunday, February 24, 2002 Author: Jim Rapier Staff writer Jesuit coach Garry Ortner said he was at a loss for words to describe how well his team played against Brother Martin on Saturday night. "For once, I am speechless," Ortner said. Jesuit had a lot to talk about after winning the Division I state championship with a 3-0 victory against Brother Martin at Tad Gormley Stadium. The Blue Jays (29-4-1) took control with first-half goals by Brandon Sanchez and John Ransone and got one in the second half from Michael Touchy, who was selected the most outstanding player. The teams split their two games during the regular season, but Jesuit won the season series and gained a little revenge after losing to Brother Martin in the state title game two years ago. The Blue Jays also denied the Crusaders (24-8-1) a third consecutive state title. "That was the best we have ever played," Ortner said. "I couldn’t ask them to do more. We wanted high pressure on offense and they did it. They did it all. I am so proud of them." Everything started with Jesuit’s strong first half, when the Blue Jays seemed to be a step faster and outshot the Crusaders 5-1. Jesuit seemed to control the pace with an uptempo attack of one- and two-touch passes. It worked. Sanchez scored the first goal when he one-touched a loose ball from 15 yards on the eighth minute. Ransone made it 2-0 in the 24th minute after a crossing pass by Ian Batherson went to Ransone, who shot past the keeper to the far post. "They did a good job of creating opportunities and were great at taking advantage of them," said Brother Martin coach Alan DeRitter. "Give them all the credit; they played great." "He (Ortner) told us what to do, the players did the rest," Touchy said. He stressed to us to be the first player to every ball. He said if we were, we would score and we did." Brother Martin seemed to shift into a similar mode offensively in the second half and managed 11 shots on goal, but none scored past Blue Jays keeper Julien Chouest. Touchy increased the lead to 3-0 after he scored on a short hard shot from the right side of the goalbox in the 63rd minute. "Two goals is never enough in soccer ," Ortner said. "We knew they would put pressure on us in the second period. We just had to look for the opportunity to cover." Ortner can now count the schools’ second title in four years and third in his nine years at Jesuit. "This is the greatest," he said. "But all (state titles) feel the greatest."
Jesuit-Brother Martin rivalry continues tonight - Familiar foes square off in quest to win state championship Times-Picayune, The (New Orleans, LA) - Saturday, February 23, 2002 Author: Jim Rapier Staff writer Brother Martin and Jesuit play for the ninth time in three years at 7 p.m. today at Tad Gormley Stadium. The Division I state soccer championship is at stake. The Crusaders (24-7-1) and the Blue Jays (28-4-1) are rivals who can’t shake each other, and it seems they would not have it any other way. Following their semifinal victories, the coaches and players for each team said they got the opponent they wanted in the state final. "There is nothing more fun than playing a No. 1 rival in a big game," Jesuit captain Daniel Barbara said. "It is just a great atmosphere (estimated 5,000 fans when they played for the title two years ago), and that is why I like playing Brother Martin." Consider the history and the success. Two years ago they played four times, the last being for the state title, which Brother Martin won. Last year they played twice. They have played twice this season and split. The last three Division I state champions have been Jesuit in 1999 and Brother Martin the past two years. Most of the players for each team, Barbara and Brother Martin sweeper Andrew Cassara said, have known each other for a long time by playing together or against each other on local club teams during summers. "With our skill levels, we are two of the best teams in the state," Cassara said. "It should be a great game. In the end, it comes down to who wants it more." That may be true considering how well the teams know each other. "At this point, it’s like we know each other’s sleeping habits," Brother Martin coach Alan DeRitter said. "But you don’t leave the game plan that got you this far. You can throw in a few wrinkles but not a new sheet. What has made our program strong is stability." Defense has also been the hallmark of the Crusaders. They did not give up a goal in last year’s playoffs and have given up only one in four playoff games this year. Jesuit’s "explosive offense," DeRitter said, will counter with its usual style of play. "We may make a couple subtle changes, but we will continue to play as in the past," said Jesuit coach Garry Ortner, who has led the Blue Jays to seven championship games in nine years. "We will try to possess the ball and put pressure on a team. ... You couldn’t ask for a better match in a state final." As far as Brother Martin and Jesuit are concerned, you can’t have too much of a good thing.
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Post by Scott Crawford on Apr 6, 2013 10:17:58 GMT -6
2001 Division II Boys February 21, 2001 Independence Stadium St. Thomas More 3 Parkway 1
Daily Advertiser STM Cougars capture boys soccer title From staff reports February 22, 2001
SHREVEPORT — Jaret Garber pulled off a hat-trick Wednesday for the St. Thomas More soccer team, and in doing so carried the Cougars to a state title Wednesday with a 3-1 victory over Parkway.
“I can’t even describe what I’m feeling,” said STM head coach Willie Davis, following the Cougars’ first state championship. “No longer will people be able to say, ‘look out for STM’ and then in the same breath say, ‘but they’re never been there at the end’ (of the playoffs).” The Cougars had been bumped from the playoff in the semifinal round four of the last five years. But, on Wednesday, Garber made sure the Cougars wouldn’t be denied.
Both Davis and Garber admitted the Cougars had to get over a bout of the jitters, playing on artificial turf and a wide field before breaking loose in the second half.
“We had a lot of pressure on us coming into this game,” Davis said. “And (Parkway) really had nothing to lose. They were use to playing on artificial turf and it took us a little time to get the feel of it. “Plus, the field was wider than we normally play on (70 feet, instead of 62 feet),” he said. “But after the first half we pulled it together. We’ve finally gotten over the hump.”
Garber said his first goal came off a misfire by teammate Greg Verlander. A wide crossing shot by Verlander hit the post and grazed off of a couple of Parkway player before ending up on the Garber’s foot.
“Both teams counter attacked during the first half,” Garber said. “But in the second half we started to get it together and after the first goal our confidence began to grow.” Garber said his second goal was the best of the season.
I got the ball about 40 yards outside the goal and went past two players before going one-on-one with the keeper,” the STM senior said. “It was the kind of goal you dream about.”
With the score 2-zip and about 12 minutes remaining in the game, the Cougars suffered a bit of a letdown. “Jaret’s second goal could have been use as the climax for a movie,” Davis said. “He suffered a broken collar bone last season and missed the semifinals, so this was special for him.
We did get lazy following his second goal. I think the kids though we had the game won when (Parkway) came back and scored their goal,” he said.
However, Garber and the Cougars pulled it together and scored insurance goal shortly after Parkway had pulled to 2-1.
“We came back right after they scored,” Garber said. “Joe Gondron made a good cross and when I got the ball, I was able to beat one player and then had the keeper one-on-one and put it right past him.”
The Cougars finished the season at 18-3-3 and wearing a state crown on their heads. “This team has been a very disciplined all year long,” Davis said. “And now we know what it takes (to win a championship). The key was that these guys trusted me and I put my trust in them.”
That trust has blossomed into a first ever soccer title for the STM Cougars.
Shreveport Times By Tim Barnes
If putting your heart and soul on the line made any difference to a scoreline, Parkway’s boys soccer team might have seen a different outcome to its Division II Championship game with St. Thomas More at Independence Stadium Wednesday.
Instead, giving the 125 percent that Parkway coach Joe Gallucci demanded of them and playing perhaps their best game of the season wasn’t enough as they fell 3-1 to the No. 1 Cougars. It was their first ever appearancein the final. Senior Beau Helms scored Parkway’s only goal of the game midway through the second half.
"At the end of the day they were the better team, but I can’t fault my guys for effort," said Gallucci. "They gave it their all and can be proud of what they have done this season. Just reaching the final is something to be very proud of."
Failing to convert first half chances, two of which were one-on-one breakaways, proved costly though.
Team leader Nick Barcelona and makeshift striker Chad Stroope, both of whom are seniors and playing in their last games for the Panthers, both missed one-on-one chances before the break that might have had officials etching their name on the trophy.
"You can’t miss clear cut chances like that if you want to win a state championship," added Gallucci. "St. Thomas More took their chances. They moved the ball laterally very well and moved the ball around very well, which we failed to do."
Despite missing those chances, Parkway was organized at the back and defended adamantly, holding the game scoreless going into the second half and giving the large home crowd hope that they might pull off a dramatic victory.
Barcelona had another chance to put Parkway ahead early in the second half when he was played through the middle of the field by brother Matt, only for the official to call the play back for an earlier foul.
But as tired legs -- Parkway had just 16 players compared to St. Thomas More’s 22 -- crept in, the visitors struck midway through the second half when Marc Escalona crossed the ball from the left side which goalie Gorge Perez could only palm away, leaving a rebound for Jaret Garber to tap into the open goal.
Eight minutes later it was 2-0 when Garber broke down the right side of the field and cut behind the Panthers’ defense to fire a low shot into the left corner. But as easy as it would have been for Parkway to give up, they showed the same fight and spirit that had held them throughout the game and came back almost immediately.
Stroope lobbed a free kick from just outside the penalty area to the back post where Helms was waiting to head the ball into the unguarded net.
Parkway’s heavy legs failed to produce any genuine chances in the closing minutes, and with three minutes left Garber completed his hat trick when he cut across the top of the penalty area from the left side and fired into the right corner.
The Panthers had battled hard right from the opening whistle and had their first genuine chance midway through the first half when Nick Barcelona broke through the center of the Cougars’ defense, only to fire his shot low and wide of the right post under pressure from two defenders.
Stroope had an even better chance just a minute later when he latched onto a long through-ball behind the defensive line, only for goalie Brennan Landry to make a spectacular flying save to his left to block the shot.
St. Thomas More had chances of their own, twice putting close range headers over the bar and shaving the post wit
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Post by Scott Crawford on Apr 6, 2013 10:27:28 GMT -6
2002 Division II February 23, 2002 Terrier Field, Vandebilt Vandebilt 2 South Terrebonne 0
Vandebilt tops South Terrebonne to win school’s third soccer state championshipwww.dailycomet.com/article/20020221/NEWS/202210317?p=4&tc=pgIt became apparent on Saturday that Terrebonne Parish boasted the two best boys' high school soccer teams in Division II in the state. On Wednesday night, it was the Vandebilt Catholic Terriers who emerged as the No. 1 team while a storybook season came to an end for the South Terrebonne Gators. The Terriers got two goals from Shawn Picou and their defense stifled the Gators to capture their third state championship with a 2-0 shutout victory at Terrier Field. "Well, it was the perfect ending to an almost perfect season," Vandebilt coach Doug Hamilton said. "We have 33 wins, which is incredible. The crowd was perfect, the field conditions were perfect and the outcome was perfect for us. "We've had so much success this season in the `W' column that we just weren't going to be denied and I've got to give a hell of a lot of credit to South Terrebonne. We knew they would be intense but boy they represented themselves very well (Wednesday)." Gators coach Randy Boquet expressed the same sentiments for his team. "Somebody had to lose this game and it turned out to be us but Vandebilt gets a lot of credit, they (the Terriers) have an outstanding soccer team but we came to win (Wednesday) night and I think it showed in the game," Boquet said. "These guys played their hearts out and I've said I'm proud of these guys so many times, it's getting old but I'll never stop saying it. These guys are just the best soccer players and the best people that I've ever been around. "We had a family on this team and we were a Cinderella story but midnight hit (Wednesday night)," Boquet added. "I can't take anything away from Vandebilt but I'm as proud as I can be about these kids. They're the greatest, they really are." South Terrebonne (18-8-1) made it to the state championship match by getting the ball to talented players like Adam Sanders (24 goals on the season) in the open field. But Vandebilt (33-3-1) packed its defense tight, got defenders in all open areas and never allowed the Gators skill players to maneuver in space, effectively shutting down South Terrebonne's high-powered attack. "Our defense has really stepped up ever since we played Brother Martin back in early December," Hamilton said. "I keep coming back to our total team defense concept. You saw our forwards playing defense, our midfielders playing defense, Kyle Jacobs pretty much shut down their weapon (Sanders)." With their offense stalled, the Gators were never really able to find an answer to jump-start their machine. "A lot of that goes to Vandebilt's talent," Boquet said. "They just have a really talented team and our team's talented as well. But the bottom line is they made a few more plays than we did (Wednesday night) and that's what made it 2-0. All the credit in the world goes to them." Early on, South Terrebonne was able to control the flow of the game, but Vandebilt made its adjustments on defense and slowly began to turn the tide. Just before the end of the first half, Picou headed a corner kick from Taylor Pierron just past Gators goalkeeper Wesley LeCompte and into the net to give Vandy a 1-0 lead. "We always said that the first goal was the championship goal because once we score, we relax and we've won all but one game this season in which we scored first," Hamilton said. "The first goal, you won't see too many nicer goals - not just in high school, but on any level. That was a beautiful ball, a beautiful goal, tremendous execution and I couldn't have asked for anything nicer to look at. That was top-notch." With the Terriers' defense starting to take control of the game and the offense beginning to find holes in the Gators defense, the goal swung the momentum in Vandebilt's direction. "The first one was definitely the biggest one because it was right before the half ended and our team was playing down a little bit. We weren't playing as well as we should've been playing and it gave our team a big boost," Picou said. "So that helped us out a lot coming out for the second half." It didn't take long for Picou to strike again. Five minutes and 20 seconds into the second half, Jonathan Menard broke towards the South Terrebonne goal, but LeCompte was able to come up, cut him off and stop the shot. However, before LeCompte could secure the goal, Picou charged in and booted the ball past the Gators goalie and into a wide open net. "Jon Menard challenged the keeper and the keeper just misplayed it and I was standing right there to clean it up," Picou said. The game was intense and physical from start to finish, but frustration mounted and tempers flared toward the end. Six yellow cards (three against each team) and one red card (against South Terrebonne) were issued during the game. "You try to encourage the kids to keep their composure but emotions - these guys wanted it so bad," Boquet said. "We've got a couple of guys on this team who play football and they started playing a little football. They just started playing a little body-to-body instead of playing the ball and that's just them wanting it. They wanted it that bad." Hamilton said Vandebilt was able to draw off its experience as the game went on. "Again, you go back to the rivalry and the intensity. We knew they were going to be emotional and we've played some tough games, we've played some physical games, we've played every kind of soccer game," Hamilton said. "I mean we've played 37 games this season, including tournaments. We've seen everything. We thought our experience would be a contributing factor and I think it was in the sense that when the emotion and the crowd got involved, I think we were able to deal with it a little bit better. "The officials, I thought, did a great job," Hamilton said. "It's tough to officiate a game when you've got 3,000 people here and it was intense. I thought we were able to handle the environment a little bit better than South Terrebonne did. I've got to give a lot of credit to South Terrebonne, but really, the credit goes to what I think is the best team in the state." Picou said the championship seals this team's position as one of the best in the school's history alongside the 1992 and 1996 squads, which won the Terriers' other state titles. "This is probably one of the best years in Vandebilt history," Picou said. "We won three tournaments, we've got the most wins in the history of Vandebilt soccer, so we just deserved it."
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Post by Scott Crawford on Apr 6, 2013 10:54:39 GMT -6
2003 Division III March 7, 2003 Tad Gormley Stadium St. Louis 3 St. Thomas Aquinas 0
Saints get kick out of D-III St. Louis wins third state soccer title American Press (Lake Charles, LA) - Saturday, March 8, 2003 Author: BRIAN GUILBEAU AMERICAN PRESS
NEW ORLEANS — A little bit of luck and a lot of practice resulted in a state soccer championship for St. Louis Catholic High School here Friday.
Scoring three goals on set plays, the Saints bested St. Thomas Aquinas of Hammond 3-0 in the Division III final at Tad Gormley Stadium.
" This is a great accomplishment for the kids, " said St. Louis coach Jason Oertling. " They have worked hard all year and thought they were the best and proved it. "
St. Louis 'first two goals came courtesy of a little luck. The Saints (24-8-1) were credited with a goal on a corner kick midway through the first half when it was actually knocked into the goal by St. Thomas Aquinas 'Brad McKee.
In the second half, Jonathan Puckett missed a header off a throw-in, but got just enough of the ball to push it by STA goalie Grady Seale.
" Every practice we work on set pieces, " Oertling said. " The goals were scored on things we practice. "
Joseph Lapira, named the out-standing player of the game, added the Saints final goal with 13:07 show-ing on the clock in the second half.
" We were playing good, " Lapira said. " We had plenty of opportuni-ties. We were just waiting for the shots to start falling. "
St. Louis goalie Hank Chol stopped everything the Falcons (18-9- 2) sent his way to record his fourth shutout of the postseason. St. Louis
outscored its opponents 17-0 in the playoffs on the way to its first state title since win-ning back-to-back titles in 1997 and 1998. The Saints fin-ished runner-up last season.
" That's what we are most proud of, " Oertling said. " Not giving up a goal in the play-offs. "
" The better team won, " said St. Thomas Aquinas coach John Cox, whose team was making its first appear-ance ever in the finals. " They have a good ball club. They lost last year and had a lot to prove. "
Chol, who celebrated his 17 th birthday Friday, needed a little help from his defense at times to keep the shutout.
" There were a few times I got a little worried, " Chol said. " But our defense has played well all along. It's been the same way throughout the playoffs. "
St. Louis captures state soccer title Times-Picayune, The (New Orleans, LA) - Saturday, March 8, 2003 Author: Gene Guillot Staff writer Set pieces have always played a key role for the St. Louis boys soccer team in state championships. Friday was nothing new.
The Saints scored on three set pieces (a free kick outside the box) to defeat St. Thomas Aquinas 3-0 and win the Division III Nokia Sugar Bowl state championship at Tad Gormley Stadium.
It was the third title for St. Louis in the past seven years.
"We work every day in practice on set pieces," St. Louis coach Jason Oertling said. "The goals came on what we practiced. St. Martin's beat us last year by using set pieces. It felt good to get them to go in our favor."
In the 25th minute, Jay Honoré took a corner kick from the right side. The ball deflected off Falcon defender Brad McKee's head and bounced into the goal to give the Saints a 1-0 lead.
St. Thomas Aquinas had several chances to even the score, including a breakaway by Justin Burns in the 46th minute. After he split two defenders, he took a shot from 12 yards out, but Saints keeper Hank Chol knocked it away.
Jonathan Puckett gave the Saints a two-goal lead with a header in the 55th minute off Jud Norman's throw-in. Falcon keeper Grady Seale misjudged the ball and it deflected off his fingertips to Puckett.
Joseph Lapira, who was named Outstanding Player, scored the final goal in the 67th minute. Miller Flynt sent a free kick over the top of the defense. Lapira put a shot in the lower left corner.
"The better team won today," St. Thomas coach John Cox said. "They lost in the finals last year and had a lot to prove this year."
St. Louis did not allow a goal in its four playoff matches.
Saints return to state soccer finals St. Louis will meet St. Thomas Aquinas for the Division III championship Friday in New Orleans. American Press (Lake Charles, LA) - Sunday, March 2, 2003 Author: FROM STAFF REPORTS 'We don't want to just get there, especially after last year we want to win it. 'Jason Oertling Saints head coach BATON ROUGE — For the fourth time since 1997, the St. Louis boys soccer team is in the state champi-onship game.
St. Louis made itself at home in the LSU Women's Soccer Complex, rolling to a 5-0 win over Parkview Baptist in the Division III semifinals Saturday.
St. Louis (23-8-1) will face St. Thomas Aquinas, which defeated University 3-0 on Saturday in the other semifinal, in the champi-onship game 4 p.m. Friday at Tad Gormley Stadium in New Orleans.
St. Louis won the title in 1997 and 1998, and was the runner-up last year to St. Martin's.
" It's just an incredible feeling, " St. Louis coach Jason Oertling said. " But as incredible as it is to get into the finals, we don't want to just get there, especially after last year we want to win it. "
St. Louis 'Craig Greenman led the Saints with two goals and an assist.
" We beat them to the ball and out-played them, " Greenman said. " As long as we show up and play our game we should always turn out on top. "
Oertling said the wide field worked perfectly to accent the Saints 'strengths.
" That's exactly the way it worked, " he said. " This is the best passing team we've had here at St. Louis. We just spread them thin. We
took it down the sidelines and worked it in. "
All five of the Saints goals were assisted.
The Saints have outscored three playoff opponents 14-0.
Against Parkview (14-9-2 ), St. Louis battled until midway through the first half when Joseph Lapira scored the first of three Saints goals before halftime.
" St. Louis moved the ball better than us, " Parkview sen-ior Raymond Edmonds said. " We got down early, and when that happens it's diffi-cult coming back. "
" It's a day when we could-n't seem to do anything right and they couldn't do anything wrong, " Parkview coach Craig Winchell said. " We did-n't play well as a group today and St. Louis is a very talent-ed team. "
Despite the two-hour drive from Lake Charles, Saints fans outnumbered Eagles fans.
" Our fan following is great for our players, " said Oertling. " Whether we're at home or on the road we know we're always going to outnum-ber the other team's fans. "
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Post by Scott Crawford on Apr 6, 2013 11:09:33 GMT -6
2003 Division II March 7, 2003 Terrier Field, Vandebilt Vandebilt 2 Neville 1From The Courier (Houma) www.houmatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Site=HC&Date=20030308&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=303080316&Ref=AR&Profile=1032REPEAT PERFORMANCE: Vandebilt wins second straight Division II state soccer championshipBy JUAN ANTHONY NATHAN Staff Writer HOUMA -- Vandebilt Catholic and Neville entered the Division II boys’ state soccer championship match with something to prove. Vandebilt wanted to prove that it was truly the best team in the state, while Neville just wanted to prove it deserved to be there. Both teams got their point across as Vandebilt won the Division II state soccer championship for the second year in a row, with a 2-1 victory. "I have to give a lot of credit to Neville. As an unknown team to us, they represented very well in the state finals match," Terriers coach Doug Hamilton said. The road to the state championship was not an easy one for Vandebilt, as it had to face two of the top teams in the state, Ben Franklin and St. Thomas Moore, on the road to the championship. "We come off the Ben Franklin win and the St. Thomas More win, both teams were ranked No. 1 and 2 respectively. Neville came in at No. 6, we had high expectations," Hamilton said. The Terriers quickly found out that Neville was not a pushover as it came out aggressively in the first half and were not intimidated by Jonathon Menard’s first goal for the Terriers. "It’s been like that all year," Neville coach Stuart Keys said. "We just wanted to stick with our game plan." After Menard scored the first goal of the game 14:05 into the first half, Neville’s Bradley McCoy scored on an assist by Jeffrey Fritzer. "Their first goal, we misplayed a ball," Hamilton said. "As a team, playing a defending champion, we knew they were going to come out intense. We talked about it for the last several weeks. No one was going to give us anything," Hamilton said. The Tigers offensive intensity wore off in the second half as Vandebilt played the role of aggressor the entire second half, holding Neville to only two shots on goal. "We really picked it up on offense in then second half, they had virtually no scoring chances in the second half," Hamilton said. "A wise soccer coach said one day, the best defense is a good attacking offense. Particularly in the second half, we had our way on the attacking side of the field." Menard scored the Terriers’ second and final goal of the game 1:05 into the second half, which sealed the win for Vandebilt. "Jonathon Menard has had an incredible run in the playoffs scoring all the goals and assisting on the others," Hamilton said. Hamilton attributed the success of his team to the leadership of his seniors. "We certainly have all of the experience in the world with 10 seniors, and even some of the guys that are juniors and sophomores have a world of soccer experience. We have a very deep bench, and it’s a total effort. We knew they would wear down," he said. Neville going for state titleHillary Smith Posted on March 7, 2003 For some of the Neville boys soccer players, it took until they got off of the bus in Houma on Thursday for it to really sink in that they were going to play in the Division II state championship. "I think most of us just kind of realized it," striker Wesley Martin said. "It feels real special. We're really proud to be here." The Tigers play Vandebilt Catholic at 7 tonight for the state title, the first team ever from northeastern Louisiana to participate in a state championship soccer game. The road to the finals seemed rather easy to the naked eye. Neville has not scored less than five goals in its first three games and goalie Allen Barham hasn't allowed more than two in any game. But against Vandebilt Catholic, the Tigers meet the defending state champions' returning defending state MVP striker John Menard. "They are pretty solid all around," Neville coach Stuart Keyes said. "They know what they need to do to win. They've been here before." It's the rest of the season that hasn't been as easy for Neville. Amid the usual midseason injuries and nagging problems, the Tigers lost coach Daniel Mangum with two weeks left in the regular season. Mangum was called to National Guard duty and left Feb. 1, putting Keyes in charge to shake things up. "It was totally different," sweeper Neil Chappell said. "He changed a great deal of things: they way our offense attacked, the way our defense was formed. But we practiced with it for two weeks and now it works." Mangum was hopeful for weekend playoff games before he left, but has seen his team play just once since his call to his station in Bunkie. "He came to the Ruston game (in the regular season) and just sat in the stands," Keyes said. "He did not try to reinsert himself into the team. He didn't want to yo-yo with the emotions of the kids. "This has been very hard on him. He wants to be here and he wants to be a part of this. He worked with this team for four years and the 12 seniors have worked with him for four years, so it was hard for him to tear himself away. When he first saw that there was a chance he could get called up, he called me and said that instead of trying out coaches, he handed me his team. There were times when he could have come back and come to watch a game because he got these boys to this point and he wants to see them do well." Despite the trials for the Tigers, the team hasn't lost a game since Mangum's departure and is 20-7-1 heading into today's game. "The soccergodsnbsp; have favored us," Chappell said. "If our defense holds up and our offense scores goals, we could win." Mario Garcia has led the Tiger scoring attack in the postseason with five goals, two in the first and third games. He is joined on the senior-laden forward line by speedster Alex Presley and Bradley McCoy, who have each scored in the last two games. Boys' High School Soccer Playoffs: Vandy heading back to state title matchBy MICHAEL KRIEG The (Lafayette) Daily Advertiser Published: Sunday, March 2, 2003 at 6:01 a.m. Last Modified: Sunday, March 2, 2003 at 12:34 a.m. LAFAYETTE -- It was well worth the wait for Vandebilt Catholic. The Terriers had never won at Cougar Stadium, entering Saturday's Division II state soccer semifinals vs. St. Thomas More. Thanks to Jonathan Menard, that streak is over. Menard struck for a hat trick as Vandebilt Catholic pulled away in the second half for a 4-2 victory over STM. STM defeated Vandebilt 1-0 earlier in the season. "We lost to these guys two years ago over here in the semifinals and we thought we had the better team, but we lost," Vandebilt coach Doug Hamilton said. "This is the first time we've won on this field. Our guys didn't need too much motivation because we had a chance not only to avenge that loss, but also to host the state championship at our place." With the win, Vandebilt (26-4-2) earned that right to host Neville Thursday for the state championship. STM's season ended with a 19-7-3 record. STM struck first just under the 10:00 mark of the opening half. Will Peyton dribbled into the Vandebilt box and drew a foul-setting up a penalty kick. Robbie Lebas took the penalty kick and forced Vandebilt goaltender Ross Chauvin to commit before beating him for the easy goal. However, Vandebilt rallied to score two straight to claim the 2-1 halftime lead. "We looked pretty possessive, but we never went towards the goal," STM coach Kevin Mooney said of the first half. "We would settle for a 40-yard shot, instead of actually trying to get inside the 18. The time we did get inside the 18 we got a penalty kick and a goal. After that we were taking outside shots." STM was playing without the services of Greg Verlander and lost starting goaltender Jeff Etienne 20 minutes into the game in a collision with Menard. Justin Corte tied the score at 1-1 24:50 into the first half on a nice cross pass from Menard. Menard dribbled through a couple defenders in right side of the box and sent a pass to Corte in front. Menard put Vandebilt ahead for good at the 35:00 mark. Menard sliced and diced through a trio of STM defenders in the box and beat Brad Domingue one-on-one for the halftime lead. "We were down and I guess we knew we just had to pick it up," Menard said. "We scored a couple of quick ones and then after that we just picked it up a lot. "We finished our opportunities, that was it. We've had trouble with that this year, but we managed to do it this game." The Terriers increased their lead to 3-1 just 30 seconds into the second half. A loose ball got by Stephen Hernandez in the STM zone and Menard dribbled in on Domingue before beating him for the breakaway goal. "This year we're a lot more creative," Hamilton said. "We finally finished some goals. Jon Menard is the returning all-state MVP. He's had a down year, having some trouble finishing goals, but today that first goal in the second half what else do you want?" STM rallied to cut the lead to 3-2 on Brandon Bradley's header at the 25:00 mark, but Menard completed his hat trick with a goal at the 38:00 mark. Vandebilt started 10 seniors Saturday, while STM started just three. "The majority of their starters are seniors," Mooney said. "They have that experience and let's be honest they also have the physical size. They're bigger and stronger. In the future with STM, I think it's promising. "Our boys did well. They fought to the end and that's what I respect about them. I'll take these STM boys over and state champion. They're a class act."
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Post by Scott Crawford on Apr 6, 2013 11:18:57 GMT -6
2003 Division I Boys March 8, 2003 Tad Gormley Stadium Jesuit 2 Lafayette 1
Jesuit edges Lafayette for title Times-Picayune, The (New Orleans, LA) - Sunday, March 9, 2003 Author: Jim Rapier Staff writer Lafayette threw a frantic rally at Jesuit in the final minutes of the boys Division I soccer state championship.
But Lafayette could not stop the Blue Jays from creating a new chapter in the school's rich soccer history. Jesuit's 2-1 victory Saturday at Tad Gormley Stadium gave it its second consecutive state championship, its fourth in 10 years and first-ever title defense.
It also was Hubie Collins' first state championship as head coach. Collins became head coach when Garry Ortner retired after last year.
"I haven't had a chance to really think about it all, my first title as head coach, the first back-to-back titles," Collins said. "It is just really a great achievement for the boys."
The title seemed secure until the final seven minutes. The Blue Jays (27-1-4) led 2-0 and had outshot Lafayette (22-7) 7-0 in the second half until the 73rd minute. Then, the Lions began to create scoring chances and Joey Belfour scored in the 79th minute.
Lafayette kept up the pressure and Jesuit keeper Sean Munro made a one-handed save of a header in the upper-left corner of the goal during extend time.
"You are always afraid that a goal will make it a little too interesting, and they scored and it became a little too interesting," Collins said.
Jesuit scored its first goal when Lee Thomas headed a corner kick from Kyle Schmidt in the 28th minute. The Blue Jays had seven shots in the final 13 minutes of the first half, and the momentum seemed to carry over to the second half.
"At halftime we knew we had to settle into our game and get some good touches," said Jesuit's Casey Steen, who was selected Most Outstanding Player. "There was still a lot of soccer to be played."
The Blue Jays scored their second goal in the 55th minute when Brandon Sanchez settled under a high pass in the box with his back to goal and bi-cycled a pass to Eddie Cullen, who dribbled right and scored.
Jesuit seemed in control until Lafayette made its final push.
"Give them (Lafayette) credit, they gave a real fight to the finish," Steen said. "It was a real fierce final two or three minutes, but we pulled it out."
Blue Jays seek to defend title Times-Picayune, The (New Orleans, LA) - Saturday, March 8, 2003 Author: Jim Rapier Staff writer When Jesuit plays Lafayette in the boys Division I Nokia Sugar Bowl state soccer championship at 7 p.m. today at Tad Gormley Stadium, it will be the eighth time in 10 years the Blue Jays have played in the title match.
But Jesuit captains and seniors Ken Kleinschmidt, Brandon Sanchez and Casey Steen know something is missing.
"This is a pretty cool opportunity," Sanchez said, "because I don't think Jesuit has gone back-to-back years winning the state championship."
In the nine-year tenure (1994-2002) of Coach Garry Ortner, Jesuit won the title three times (1995, 1999, 2002). Hubie Collins, who served as an assistant under Ortner, is now the head coach, and he knows what it will take for the Blue Jays (26-1-4) to win it for the second consecutive year.
"You start the year with 26 individual players," Collins said. "Now, we have become a great team. They are fierce competitors and get along away from the field."
Lafayette (22-6), Collins said, will present a challenge with its athleticism, physical play and ability to effectively play the ball on the ground and the air. "The most important thing is we have to stick to our game plan," he said.
That means, Sanchez, Steen and Kleinschmidt agreed, ball possession and quick passing.
"We've played them before, and we have gotten better since then, but I am sure they have too," Kleinschmidt said.
"We need to settle in and get into our rhythm and keep it at our pace," Steen said. "That means keeping control of the ball and playing good defense."
Sanchez said Lafayette will play its usual aggressive style, but Jesuit has to maintain its composure. That helped the Blue Jays get through District 9-I with a 10-0 record.
Collins and his players have continued one tradition by making it to the title match, and now they get the chance to create a new one if they repeat as champions.
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