Jays Lance Crusaders, 2-1, and Bring Home a District Championship

Posted January 24, 2015 / Last updated January 28, 2015

Chase Rushing and Dillon Fuchs Stuff the Crusaders with One Goal Apiece

Braden Brignac puts himself between the ball and a Crusader defender.

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The one-two punch duo of Chase Rushing and Dillon Fuchs knocked out Brother Martin, 2-1, and earned the Blue Jays a district (9-5A) championship.

For his role in Jesuit’s win, Rushing was named “New Orleans area Large Schools Male Athlete of the Week.”

The Saturday afternoon match under blue skies on the Crusaders’ Farley Field was even more physical for both teams than their first meeting earlier this month at John Ryan Stadium. That first match between the two rivals ended in a 1-1 tie when the Crusaders kicked a goal after catching the Jays napping with five minutes remaining on the clock.

Chase Rushing battles for control of the ball.

No nap the second time around.

In the 40th minute, with the referee about to signal the end of the first half, Chase Rushing found himself in the middle of dense traffic piled up in front the Crusaders’ goal. But Rushing specializes in finding openings the size of blood vessels. He sent a powerful left foot kick that flew past the Crusaders’ goalie to give the Jays a 1-0 halftime lead.

Sixteen minutes into the second half, the Jays had a pair of back-to-back corner kicks. On the second corner kick, Patrick LaCour lofted the ball to the gang waiting in front the goal. Fuchs stuck his head right on the ball and sent it careening past the Brother Martin goalkeeper and into the right side of the net. Fuchs’s goal put the Jays two-up and fired up the 100 or so Jesuit soccer fans.

Strangely, the second goal had the opposite effect on the Blue Jays on the field. Instead of turning up the intensity level a couple of notches, the Jays uncharacteristically sat back on their haunches. Five minutes later, in the 61st minute, the Crusaders struck back with a goal that narrowed the gap to 2-1.

But then that old mystical Jesuit resilience kicked in. The Jays kept their composure, denied the Crusaders further opportunities, and the boys in blue and white finished strong, with dashes of gusto.

The Jays have three non-district matches ahead to keep them sharp and focused until the playoffs begin. Jesuit’s overall record improved to 15-4-3 (in-state 15-0-3; district 7-0-1). The first of those three matches remaining has the Jays and the Irish of Grace King playing on Wednesday, Jan. 28 at John Ryan Stadium. The match kicks off at 5 p.m.

Congratulations to the varsity soccer Jays on winning the District 9-5A Championship!

N.O. Advocate: Goal right before halftime big momentum-builder as Jesuit downs Brother 2-1

Nola.com: Week 10 Soccer Recap: Jesuit wins District 9-I crown

Nola.com: Jesuit’s Chase Rushing named New Orleans area Large Schools Male Athlete of the Week

Galleries

Soccer 2014-15: JHS (2) vs Brother Martin (1); Farley Field, January 24

Chase Rushing battles for control of the ball.
Image 3: The ball hits the ground and with tremendous force, bounces up...
Image 4: ...and up and up. The Crusaders' goalie starts to react...
Image 5: As Chase Rushing and Dillon Fuchs (and the goalie) watch the ball continue its upward momentum and trajectory, one Blue Jay fan on the sideline already sees where it's going...
Image 6: As the ball starts its downward trajectory, the players see a goal about to be scored. One second has elapsed since the first image in this series...
Image 7: With the ball across the goal line and in the side of the net, reactions begin...
Image 8: Triumphant for the Blue Jays on the field and sideline, dismay and disbelief on the faces of their opponents...
Image 9: The Jays are enjoying a brief celebration. Chase Rushing later describes Fuchs's goal as "phenomenal." One more second has passed since Image 6 and the ball is just now about to fall to the ground ...
Image 10: The goal by Dillon Fuchs gives the Jays a 2-0 lead. Five minutes later, the Crusaders strike back and the Jays give up their only goal of the match.
Image 2: Dillon Fuchs times a front header with precision. His momentum is no match for the outstretched arm of the Crusader defender, who is perilously close to commiting a "hand ball"...
Braden Brignac puts himself between the ball and a Crusader defender.
Braden Brignac is later fouled by the same defender and the Jays are given a free kick.
On the free kick, Dillon Fuchs (left) and Chris Pitre get a piece of the ball on a header...
... Chris Pitre follows up as the Crusader goalie scrambles...
... The ball appears to be in the goal, but it has not crossed the line. The goalie and Chris Pitre suddenly realize it's still a live ball...
... The Crusaders' goalie denies Chris Pitre and makes a great save.
Athletic director Dave Moreau congratulates head coach Hubie Collins on the Blue Jays winning district. The Jays will host Grace King Wednesday, Jan. 28 in a non-district match at John Ryan Stadium. Kickoff for the varsity game is 5 p.m. (with the junior varsity match to follow).
The starters huddle on Farley Field for their pre-match routine which includes a prayer to St. Ignatius.
Anatomy of a goal in a series of 10 images. Image 1: A corner kick by Patrick LaCour in the 56th minute starts it off. Like ducks all in a row, the Jays are lined up nicely. From left are Jack LaForge, Braden Brignac, Chase Rushing, and Dillon Fuchs. LaCour's kick to the top of the goal area is perfectly situated and up until now, untouched...
Braden Brignac hits the deck as teammates Chris Pitre (39) and Patrick LaCour (right) move in to assist.
Chase Rushing celebrates with his teammates, including Hunt Navar (right).
... Chase Rushing uncorks a shot that finds the left side of the Crusaders' goal, giving the Jays a 1-0 lead at halftime and a huge momentum builder for the rest of the match.
Striker Chase Rushing dribbles through a horde of Crusaders, determined to make something happen in the closing seconds of the first half...
Midfielder Chris Pitre gets nudged out of bounds but manages to keep the ball in play.
Dillon Fuchs heads the ball alongside a Crusader defender.
Jesuit goalkeeper Otto Candies focuses on double- fisting the ball away from the net.
Striker Dillon Fuchs pushes towards the Crusaders' goal.
Midfielder Braden Brignac hits this header with a Crusader close behind.
Winger José Aleman ignores the jibber-jabber from the sideline and lofts a pass to his teammates in front of the goal.
Midfielder Jack LaForge soars with this header.
The Crusaders waste no time attacking and the Blue Jay defense is tested early. From left, Michael Pou, goalkeeper Otto Candies, Christian Hebert (15), Nick Slay (33), Chase Rushing (7), Ethan Camet (3), and Jack LaForge (14) pass the test.
Michael Pou (16) clears the ball from the top of the penalty area with a header to Ethan Camet (3).
Christian Hebert heads the ball from his defensive back position.