Gatorade Honors Blue Jay Soccer Player Junior Steven Cabos Named Louisiana Boys Soccer Player of the Year
Congratulations to junior Steven Cabos for being named the 2009 - 10
Gatorade Louisiana Boys Soccer Player of the Year. Pictured with
Steven are Jesuit Athletic Director David Moreau (left) and
Jesuit Soccer Head Coach Hubie Collins.
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Six Blue Jays Named to the 2010 All-State Soccer Team Congratulations to the Blue Jays Named to the All-State Soccer Team Selected by the Louisiana High School Soccer Coaches Association
Senior Alex Brignac
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Junior Steven Cabos
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Senior Patrick Culotta
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Senior Joe Hart
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Senior Jordan Schwartz
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Senior Alexi Petrou
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Hubie Collins (right) earned
Coach of the Year honors.
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Times- Picayune 2010 All-Metro Soccer Athletes
Junior Steven Cabos
Offensive Player of the Year
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Senior Joe Hart
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Senior Patrick Culotta
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2010 LHSAA Soccer State Champions! Blue Jays "Lionnaise" Lafayette, 2-1, to Repeat as State ChampsMVP Jordan Schwartz Puts Blue Jays Ahead with Penalty Kick in Final Two Minutes
2010 State Soccer Champions celebrate with the state trophy. Jesuit defeated
the Lafayette Lions, 2-1, with the winning score earned by senior
Jordan Schwartz in the final two minutes of regulation.
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The Blue Jays defeated Lafayette, 2-1, in a hard-fought state championship soccer match in Shreveport on Saturday night. With the score tied 1-1 late in the game, the Lions were called for a penalty inside their box. Senior captain Jordan Schwartz kicked a rocket past the Lion goalie to put the Jays up 2-1. The following article is courtesy of The Times-Picayune and nola.com. A PERFECT DOUBLE Jesuit tops Lafayette for its second consecutive state soccer title and undefeated season
By Ted Lewis, Staff writer
Sunday, February 28, 2010
SHREVEPORT -- It was just the way Jesuit senior Jordan Schwartz imagined it would be. Closing minutes of the Division I boys soccer state championship, the match on the line and Schwartz lined up for a penalty kick. And the most important part -- it goes in -- lifting the Blue Jays to a 2-1 victory against Lafayette at Independence Stadium on Saturday night, giving Jesuit its second consecutive title. "Everybody was yelling, but I knew I could make it," Schwartz said. "I'd been nailing them in practice." "This is the best feeling in the world -- back-to-back state champions." Not to mention undefeated. The Blue Jays finished 30-0-1 after going 31-0-2 en route to the title in 2009. "Some people take it for granted," Schwartz said. "They say, 'Oh, it's Jesuit, so they should go undefeated.' But you have to get through a lot of hard things to make it happen." Not the least of which was Lafayette. The Mighty Lions, seeded sixth and who had lost to Jesuit 2-0 during the regular season, gave up an early goal by Andrew Brignac before tying the match in the early minutes on the second half on a penalty kick by Charles Sapienza. And after that, Lafayette did most of the attacking. Jesuit goalie Joseph Hart had by far his busiest night of the season, stopping at least 10 shots. Hart's job would have been even harder had it not been for the stellar defensive play of Schwartz, who was selected the game's Most Valuable Player, Stephen Cabos and Michael Yenni. "They were awesome tonight," Hart said of the Lions. "They really kept the pressure on, especially in the second half. "Their outside backs kept pushing up, and they were attacking with eight or nine guys. That's really hard to defend, but I had some good guys in front of me helping out." Even after Schwartz' goal with 2:34 left, the Lions kept attacking, getting a clear kick by Sapienza that just went to the left of the goal, and a pair of corner kicks, one of which was sent over the goal on a header. Hart caught the last one, and, knowing it was the closing seconds, flung the ball as far upfield as he could and then whipped off his shirt in celebration. "As soon as I saw that shot go up, I knew what I was going to do," Hart said. "I was just glad it was over." Schwartz' game-winning opportunity came when Andrew Moise was taken down inside the box by Sapienza. "I decided to take it into the box, but they said I got fouled," Moise said. "I don't know exactly what happened, but there wasn't any acting going on." The state championship was Jesuit's ninth in soccer. "This was a great match," Jays Coach Hubie Collins said. "They definitely had the momentum for most of the second half. "But after that (penalty kick), I knew if we played smart and showed composure, we could come away with the victory. It's one we're going to remember for a long time." That, Swartz said, especially goes for the seniors. "We take so much pride in our program," he said. "The other teams are always gunning for us because we're Jesuit. "Lafayette gave us more tonight than anybody this year. But we always seem to come out with the victory."
The following article is courtesy of The Daily Advertiser and the advertiser.com. State Soccer: Lions Denied by Powerhouse Jesuit By Kelly Morris
KMORRIS@GANNETT.COM
February 28, 2010 Division I boys soccer has a repeat champion. The No. 1 Jesuit Blue Jays took down a pesky No. 6 Lafayette team 2-1 Saturday at Independence Stadium. The game featured two goals off penalty kicks — including the game-winner. Jesuit's Jordan Schwartz scored on a penalty kick with 2:34 left in regulation. Charles Sapienza pulled down Andrew Moise, which led to the penalty kick. Blue Jays coach Hubie Collins thought the linesman signaled the infraction was inside the box. "When I saw the referee point run to the goal line to signify it was a penalty kick, I knew we had a chance to win the game," said Collins, who won his fifth state title with Jesuit. "It was exciting." It was Jesuit's 10th overall state title. Lafayette had already taken down a No. 3, a No. 2 seed and was trying to make it a No. 1 seed Saturday. Layafette coach Jeremy Cart was clearly frustrated after the game. So were his players. "It's hard to see it end this way," Cart said. "I'm so proud of the boys though. We didn't play our game in the first half, but in the second half we played our game. We owned the game. We wore Jesuit down." Lafayette's lone goal came on a penalty kick. Sapienza tied the game at 1 in the 46th minute. Jesuit didn't waste any time getting on the scoreboard. Defender Alex Brignac scored off a header in the third minute. Defender Jordan Schwartz had the cross on the goal. The Blue Jays kept the pressure in their offensive zone after the goal but escaped the first half with just a 1-0 lead. Lafayette goalkeeper Daniel Newman was a standout in a 1-0 win against No. 2 Captain Shreve in the semifinals, and that play carried over Saturday. "Lafayette was outstanding at times," Collins said. "They outplayed us at times. I knew it was going to be a close game." Lafayette got on a breakaway, and Jesuit defended. The possession led to a crucial penalty kick. The referee called a handball, setting up Sapienza's goal. Lafayette's defense was strong. The Lions started seven juniors. "I felt like we had the upperhand for a while," Cart said. "The boys learned a tough lesson tonight." Schwartz was named the MVP. "He takes a lot of our penalty kicks and free kicks," Collins said. "I knew Jordan had a really good chance to finish it." The win ran Jesuit's nation-best unbeaten streak to 64 games. Thanks to Nola.com for providing a live stream of the match. |
See Ya "Sader"! Jesuit's 2-0 Win Over Br. Martin Sends the Jays to the State Soccer ChampionshipBlue Jays Turn a Hat Trick on the Crusaders with Saturday's Playoff Win 
Senior Alexi Petrou takes advantage of a Crusader error to score Jesuit’s second
goal late in Saturday afternoon’s state semi-final playoff game against
Br. Martin at Farley Field. Senior Spencer Hart earned the Jays’ first score.
With the playoff win, Jesuit defeats their soccer rivals three times
this season and heads to Independence Stadium in Shreveport,
Louisiana, to participate in the state soccer finals.
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Jesuit-Br. Martin Soccer Playoff Photo Gallery View the LHSAA Soccer Playoff Brackets. The following article is courtesy of The Times-Picayune and nola.com. Jesuit Earns Trip to Division I Title Match Blue Jays take care of Brother Martin 2-0 in semifinal
Sunday, February 21, 2010 By Joseph Halm Contributing writer
Just 15 minutes into Saturday's Division I semifinal soccer match between Brother Martin and Jesuit, Blue Jays' defenseman Spencer Hart stood over a free kick and visualized how he would give his team the lead. Hart's vision was spot on as he blasted a shot from the top of the box into the upper left-hand corner of the net and defending state champion Jesuit advanced to this season's state final with a 2-0 victory at E.A. Farley Field. "I just saw the way the wall was lined up, and I saw an open spot to my left," Hart said. "I just focused on the one spot. I played it through my head once, and then I just struck it perfectly." The free kick, set up by a foul a few yards outside the box, was a costly mistake for Brother Martin, but for Hart, it was a golden opportunity. "As soon as I felt it, I just knew. I got goosebumps. It was exactly how I wanted to hit it," Hart said. Hart's goal forced Brother Martin to alter its strategy, according to Crusaders Coach Louie Smothermon. "Giving up an early goal was one of the things that we wanted to make sure we didn't do because it changes our game plan a little bit," Smothermon said. "As the game wore on, we had to start to move more and more players up trying to get that goal back." Even though the Blue Jays took an early lead, the Crusaders' offense found some traction with the help of several corner kicks and throw-ins deep in Jesuit territory. But for every Brother Martin chance, the Blue Jays had an answer, thanks in large part to goalkeeper Joseph Hart. "Joe Hart did a tremendous job today. These were tough, windy conditions, so my hats off to Joe for his outstanding effort today," Jesuit Coach Hubie Collins said. Collins added that playing with a lead was important, especially since both teams committed several unforced, first-half turnovers because of nervous play. "When you have a lead to defend, you have to play a little bit different. You have to be a little more cautious, but we talked about it at halftime that maybe we were playing a little too cautious," Collins said. In the opening minutes of the second half, the Blue Jays generated but did not convert on several scoring opportunities. Brother Martin controlled the pace the rest of the way, though Collins said his defense held tight. "The only time when I felt threatened was when we would give away free kicks 30 yards out because you never know what can happen with a miscommunication or something like that," he said. "I didn't feel like they created many opportunities from open play." Jesuit senior midfield Alexi Petrou put the finishing touches on the victory with his goal in the 80th minute. Even with Brother Martin's third loss to Jesuit this season, Smothermon said he is proud of his team's performance and its future. "We've played well all season long and won a lot of big games," he said. Jesuit will take on the winner of the Lafayette-Captain Shreve match for the state title Saturday. "We're delighted to be heading back to Shreveport this year. We're looking forward to be playing for a state championship and to be playing in the Independence Bowl because it is a nice stadium with a great atmosphere. We're looking forward to the challenge," Collins said. Said Spencer Hart: "It's so great. I can't even describe how great it is. We have a mission, and we still have to get one more win." |
Mardi Gras Lagniappe!!! Jays Parade Past Fontainebleau, 2-0
Jesuit Advances to the Semi-Finals to Face the Crusaders Saturday Afternoon at Farley Field
Kick Me Something, Mister!!! Junior Cade Hoerner (32)
obliges the request with this shot at the Bulldog goal and....
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Jesuit-Fontainebleau Soccer Playoff Photo Gallery
Congratulations to the Jesuit varsity soccer team for their Fat Tuesday, 2-0 quarterfinal victory over the Bulldogs from Fontainebleau High School.
The Jays dominated the game keeping the Bulldog goalie busy for most of the game. The Jays scored both goals in the first half off of the feet of senior Alexi Petrou and junior Cade Hoerner. Jesuit will travel to Br. Martin (Farley Field) on Saturday, February 20 for a semi-final playoff match. Kickoff is slated for 1:30 PM. All tickets will be $7. Student IDs will not be accepted at a LHSAA playoff game. Check out the Blue Jay soccer season by visiting the team’s Home Page.
View the LHSAA Soccer Playoff Brackets.
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...scores Jesuit’s second goal of the afternoon!
The Blue Jays went on to defeat Fontainebleau, 2-0.
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Senior Jordan Schwartz Commits to Play Soccer at
Coastal Carolina University
Senior Jordan Schwartz committed to play soccer at Coastal Carolina University, which is located
near Myrtle Beach, SC. Jordan is flanked by his parents, Colette and Dann Schwartz,
and Jesuit head soccer coach Hubie Collins (second from right).
A Blue Jay now, a Chanticleer tomorrow, but a Blue Jay forever.
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LHSAA Soccer Playoffs: Blue Jays Collar the Bulldogs, 4-1
Senior Alexi Petrou scores the second goal off Steven Cabos’s penalty kick.
Jesuit travelled to Baton Rouge on Wednesday to face the Bulldogs
from Baton Rouge High. The Jays chalked up four goals--
seniors Patrick Culotta with 2 scores, Alexi Petrou
with one score, and junior Brian Barbara with
one score-- to advance to the next round
of the soccer playoffs.
Jesuit-Baton Rouge Soccer Photo Gallery |
Blue Jays Shut Out the West Jeff Buccaneers, 6-0, to Advance in LHSAA Soccer Playoffs
Junior Joey LeVenia (29) takes advantage of a Buccaneer error to score
this goal for Jesuit. The Jays cruise to a 6-0 win on Friday afternoon
to advance to the second round of the LHSAA playoffs.
Jesuit-West Jeff Soccer Playoff Photo Gallery |
Uptown Tune-up: Lacking the Intensity Required for Upcoming
Soccer State Playoffs, Jesuit Manages to Hold Off Greenies, 3-1
With the Monday evening match between Jesuit and Newman less than
one minute old, junior Brian Barbara (3) smacks a goal past
the Greenie keeper to put the Blue Jays up, 1-0.
In their traditional season-ending game against Newman at the Greenies’s uptown home field on Monday night (February 1), the Blue Jays notched three quick goals to take a 3-0 lead into the locker room at halftime. In addition to Brian Barbara’s initial goal, junior Steven Cabos scored twice.
It appeared the Jays were cruisin’ uptown — until they emerged from their 10-minute respite to play the second half. For most of those 40 minutes, Jesuit appeared surprisingly listless and uninspired. Having already compiled a fantastic 25-0-1 record going into the Newman match, the Blue Jay looked just plain tired.
Coach Hubie Collins cleared most of the bench to give some playing time to several Blue Jays. While Jesuit had a few brilliant moments, coming close to scoring on three separate occasions, the second half belonged to the Greenies. They controlled the ball, scored one goal (and almost scored two or three more times), and played deep in Jesuit’s territory for the better part of the second half.
When the match ended 3-1, so did Jesuit’s regular season at 26-0-1, a terrific record and one that most other soccer teams only dream about. The state playoffs are about to begin and the Jays will learn on Wednesday (February 3) who their first playoff opponent will be. The match will be played either Friday or Saturday at Pan American Stadium.
“We really need to focus and play with much more intensity in the playoffs if we have any intention of advancing to the semifinals,” said Coach Collins. “Right now, we’re not ready to even play in a state championship game. We need to practice hard and somehow find the intensity that was missing in the second half tonight. We will need to sustain that focus and intensity throughout the playoffs.”
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Cold Weather Ignites Hot Feet of Blue Jays, Who Stuff Eight Goals into Eagles' Nest
Eight senior Jesuit players each scored a goal against Archbishop Shaw in second round district soccer action on a cold and windy Saturday afternoon (January 30) on the West Bank.
Additionally, Jesuit’s two backup goalies kept the Eagles’ offense at bay.
Blue Jays who scored are, from left, Brandon Cohen, Spencer Hart,
Alex Brignac, Graham McQueen, Rene Robert, Brad Stewart,
Connor Jackson, and John Barbara. Junior goalies Alex Barnes
and Greg Tortorich each played a half, shutting out the Eagles.
Next to Tortorich is his brother Matthew, who also
is his biggest fan and a future Blue Jay goalie.
Jesuit’s soccer season closes Monday night
with the traditional final game against
the Newman Greenies at Newman.
The match begins at 7 p.m.
Jesuit’s soccer season closes Monday night with the traditional final game
against the Newman Greenies at Newman.
The match begins at 7 p.m., following the JV game that starts at 5 p.m. |
Wiped Out! Br. Martin Shut Down, Shut Out, 2-0, by a Potent Jesuit Offense and a Defense Boasting a Stout “Hart” 
TUG ’O WAR: Jesuit senior goalie Joe Hart feels jerked around while defending
the Blue Jay goal during a corner kick in an aggresive match against
Brother Martin on Thursday (January 28) at Pan American Stadium.
The Blue Jays stunned the Crusaders by taking a 2-0 halftime lead on goals
by Jordan Schwartz and Steven Cabos. The halftime score held up through a
wild second half until the final whistle. Goalie Hart denied the
Crusaders a score by making several incredible saves.
The Jays travel to the West Bank on Saturday for their
second round game against Archbishop Shaw.
The match will begin at 2 p.m. on Shaw’s campus.
The following article is courtesy of The Times-Picayune and nola.com. Aggressive Blue Jays Stifle Crusaders Jesuit controls early momentum, takes 2-0 win over Martin
Friday, January 29, 2010 By Larry Holder Contributing writer
Jesuit didn't leave it to chance this time. The previous time Jesuit and Brother Martin squared off on the soccer field this season, a handball in the penalty box, resulting in a red card and a penalty kick, led to the Blue Jays' 1-0 victory over the Crusaders. The Blue Jays used an aggressive offensive attack early Thursday night to take away all the momentum as Jesuit toppled Catholic League rival Brother Martin 2-0 at Pan American Stadium. The victory gave Jesuit a clear path to the District 10-I title and again solidified the Blue Jays as one of the state's top teams going into the postseason in a couple of weeks. "This is obviously our homefield, so playing on this artificial surface makes it a faster, quicker game so we obviously knew what to expect here," Jesuit Coach Hubie Collins said. "It's the first time (Brother Martin) had played on this surface all year. We knew we had to move the ball. "I thought we were a little sluggish the first time we played. This time we came out with a lot more intensity. We created a lot of chances from the start." Blue Jays defender Jordan Schwartz took several rips at the ball in the first half and nearly connected on his two previous shots. But he made his third count in the 22nd minute as he caught Brother Martin by surprise to score for a 1-0 lead. The scoring opportunity occurred just after Brother Martin nearly scored. Bryce Luquet fired a shot that ricocheted off a Jesuit defender, forcing Blue Jays keeper Joe Hart to make a nice save. Jesuit (24-0-1 overall) then created the opportunity for Schwartz the next trip down the field. "We knew they were going to come out and play strong," Schwartz said. "The last game, we all thought it was a little too close. So we came out in practice this week and there was no joking around. It showed in our warmup and in the way we played." Jesuit's Joey LaVenia had an open field with about five minutes remaining in the first half as he streaked down the field with just he and the Brother Martin keeper in sight. Then LaVenia decided to be the distributor. His sharp stop fooled the Crusaders' oncoming defenders. LaVenia made a perfect pass to Stephen Cabos, who finished off the play with another Jesuit goal to make the score 2-0. In the second half, the Crusaders had their chances but missed several shots from point-blank range that could have altered the complexion of the match. Collins knew Brother Martin would come back out attacking in the second half and gave credit to Hart for stymieing the Crusaders in the final 45 minutes. "I was delighted that we could go up 2-0 at halftime and really wanted to make it 3-0 in the second half to really take it out of (Brother Martin)," Collins said. "We had several chances in the second half, and it didn't go our way. Then our goalkeeper Joe Hart made four saves in a row bang bang. It would have pulled it back to 2-1 and made it a little tight." |
Burned on Severn: Hot-Shooting Blue Jays Score Four Goals and Shut Out Raiders on Rummel Home Field
Blue Jays are moments away from scoring their first of four goals against Rummel
on Saturday afternoon (January 23) on the Raiders’ home field on Severn Avenue.
Senior Alexi Petrou, far left, watches patiently as his three teammates —
seniors John Barbara (13) and Alex Brignac (in front of ball),
and junior Brian Barbara — scramble for a corner kick.
The ball ended up near Petrou, who smashed it past the Raider goalie.
It was the second time in 10 days that Jesuit blanked the Raiders in district play.
In addition to Petrou, three other Blue Jays notched a goal —
senior Patrick Culotta and juniors Steven Cabos and Aiden Breaux.
Jesuit goes back into action on Thursday (January 28) against Br. Martin,
with the match starting at 7 p.m. at Pan American Stadium.
Jesuit - Rummel Soccer Photo Gallery |
Eagles No Match for Blue Jays, Who Score at Will
Senior Andrew Moise hurdles two Eagles during the Blue Jays’ match against
Archbishop Shaw on Wednesday night (January 20) at Pan American Stadium.
Jesuit shut out the Eagles, 9-0, with several players scoring goals,
including John Barbara, Brian Barbara, Jordan Schwartz,
Steven Cabos (two goals), Patrick Warwick, Patrick Culotta,
Bradley James, and Philip Hicks. Jesuit plays Rummel,
this time on Raider turf on Saturday, January 23.
The match gets underway at 2 p.m.
Jesuit - Shaw Soccer Photo Gallery |
It's That Old Blue Jay Magic! Jays Bewitch, Bother, and Bewilder Crusaders with 1-0 District Win 
Junior Steven Cabos (14) slams this penalty kick in the first half to score the winning
and only goal for the Jays. Jesuit’s varsity soccer team continues its magical season
with a Friday afternoon victory over district rival Br. Martin. Although the
Crusaders played good defense, Jesuit’s offense and equally stingy
defense proved to be the winning edge
in this wet and cold contest.
Jesuit-Brother Martin Soccer Photo Gallery |
The following article is courtesy of The Times-Picayune and nola.com. Jesuit Edges Rival Brother Martin 1-0 in District 10-I Boys Soccer MatchPeter Steinbauer,
The Times-Picayune,
January 16, 2010 12:26 p.m. The difference in Jesuit's 1-0 victory against host Brother Martin on Friday came from a handball, a red card and a penalty kick.
In the 24th minute, Jesuit's Alexi Petrou took a shot with Brother Martin goalkeeper Nathan Dean away from the goal. Crusaders defender Patrick Denault dived to the ground and blocked the shot with his hands, drawing a red card.
Blue Jays midfielder Stephen Cabos converted the resulting penalty kick. Playing under a steady rain shower with the Crusaders down a man, the Jays failed to increase their lead but held firm defensively. Jesuit (21-0-1, 2-0) has control in District 10-I.
"I crossed it in, and he (Petrou) took it down," Cabos said of the play that led to the foul. "(My teammates) were all calling for it, so I started calling for it, too. The ref called him over, and he got the red card. He said it was a blatant handball, and he swatted the ball out of the goal."
Brother Martin (14-3-3, 1-1) created several scoring opportunities before Jesuit's goal, making several runs off counter attacks. In the 19th minute, Bryce Luquet took a free kick from several feet above the box that sailed just above the cross bar. Generating chances became more difficult with 10 players.
"It's unfortunate how that went down, because that was really one of their few chances in the half and in the game," Brother Martin Coach Louie Smothermon said. "It's tough. With a man down, you have to go with one forward at times. We had to keep the game close down a goal and a man."
The Crusaders did keep the game close in the second half. Jesuit created a few chances but could never finish.
"Playing against a team that is a man down is a little bit awkward," Jesuit Coach Hubie Collins said. "You hear a lot of pro teams talk about it's awkward to find your rhythm. Because you have the man up, sometimes you think psychologically I don't have to work as hard, I don't have to do as much. .¤.¤. In the second half, there was a little bit of wind in our face. The ball was in our half more than I would have expected it. Brother Martin could have collapsed when they went a man down, but they didn't. They stuck to the task."
Said Cabos: "We talked about it at halftime that if we got chances, to settle down and put the game away. But we couldn't really get our touches down, we couldn't get on the ball enough." |
In First District Game of Season, Jesuit Spanks Rummel, Shutting Out the Raiders, 2-0, in a Physical ContestBlue Jays Score Both Goals in First Half
Junior Brian Barbara finds it slow-going during the Jesuit-Rummel soccer match
on Wednesday evening (January 13) at Pan American Stadium. It was a physical battle
for both teams with the Jays scoring two goals in the first half to defeat the Raiders, 2-0.
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Blue Jays Grin and "Bear" the Cold to Chalk Up Another Win Before Opening District Play Jesuit Soccer Traps the Catholic Bears with 3-0 Victory
Junior Brian Barbara (3) sends this shot into the Catholic goal to score Jesuit’s
second goal. The Blue Jays controlled the tempo of this game from the start.
The Jays’ first score came early in the first period from senior Jordan Schwartz.
Brian earned Jesuit's second goal, and junior Bradley James chalked up the third.
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Jesuit-Catholic (B.R.) Soccer Photo Gallery The following article is courtesy of The Times-Picayune and nola.com. Jays Rip Perplexed Bears Jesuit again proves too strong, takes 3-0 victory over Catholic
Sunday, January 10, 2010 By Peter Steinbauer Contributing writer
Catholic High of Baton Rouge has tried everything in three games against Jesuit. Catholic has tried an aggressive, offensive approach, and a conservative, defensive one. The Bears learned Saturday there may be no effective way to play Jesuit. The Blue Jays completed a season sweep of Catholic with a 3-0 win at Pan American Stadium. "We're trying to figure out a way to take away some of their strengths and find a weakness," Catholic Coach Bo Cassidy said. "I don't know if we found it out today, but we can continue to learn a lot about us. Best program in the state; only way you're going to get better is continuing to try to play them." The Blue Jays (19-0-1) jumped to a quick start when Jordan Schwartz scored on a cross from Alexi Petrou in the sixth minute. After the goal, Jesuit held possession for most of the half. Catholic (7-8-1) remained in the match with sound defensive play but didn't mount any serious offensive charges. Jesuit pulled away with two second-half goals. Brian Barbara scored off a pass from Bradley James in the 52nd minute to give the Jays a 2-0 lead. James then capped the scoring with a 74th-minute goal. "Half way through the first half, I thought we kind of coasted," Jesuit Coach Hubie Collins said. "We said at halftime we need to come out and stay on top of this game." In their previous games against Jesuit, Catholic tried to open the field offensively, but was unable to contain Jesuit's attack. This time, Cassidy said they chose to sit back more on defense and man mark a few players. "They have a lot of pieces," Cassidy said. "You take away one or two players, then they exploit you somewhere else. Today they did a good job with attacking and service in the wide areas." Jesuit remains undefeated entering district play next week. "Stay healthy, keep our fingers crossed. We're looking good," Collins said. |
First Blue Jay Soccer Reunion Brings Together Alumni Who Played for Jesuit Teams in the Recent and Distant Past  | The memories of winning the 2009 state championship in February are still fresh for these
players from the Class of 2009. From left are Zach Correa, Tom Bourgeois,
Robert Emmett, Michael Simmons, Collin Sens, Mark Reuther, and Stephen Andrieu.
Dozens of Blue Jay soccer players and Jesuit parents teamed up for the
inaugural Blue Jay soccer reunion on Saturday, January 9, 2010.
Because of the bitter cold gripping New Orleans at the time,
organizers of the event moved it from outside
Pan American Stadium to inside the much warmer Student Commons.
Check out the...
Jesuit Soccer Alumni Reunion Photo Gallery. |
Jesuit-Vandebilt Catholic Game Ends Tied 
Senior John Barbara uses his head
in a game earlier this season.
| Wednesday evening, Jesuit’s varsity soccer team travelled to Vandebilt Catholic for a match. When the game ended, the Jays and the Terriers walked away from the pitch with
a 0-0 tie. The Jays return to action on Saturday afternoon against the Catholic Bears at
Pan American. Kickoff is slated for 2 PM. |
Holiday Soccer Invitational Champions! Come Rain or Come Shine, Jesuit Soccer Will Not Be Denied
Blue Jays Defeat St. Paul's Wolves, 3-1, in Wet, Cold Championship Game
Set me up, Steven! Senior Patrick Warwick (16) streaks down the sideline as junior
Steven Cabos (14) works hard to get the ball to his teammate. Wednesday morning,
the Jays scored two goals in the first half before St. Paul’s earned their goal
on a penalty kick. Late in the game, Jesuit scored its last goal
to win the championship, 3-1.
The following article is courtesy of The Times-Picayune and nola.com. Jesuit Wins St. Paul's Tourney Jays take early lead, repeat as champions
Thursday, December 31, 2009 By Peter Steinbauer Contributing writer
St. Paul's cut Jesuit's lead to one with a goal in the 50th minute of Wednesday's match and began attacking the Blue Jays' defense hard. Jesuit Coach Hubie Collins decided to make a few substitutions, bringing in fresh players. The Blue Jays weathered the surge by St. Paul's and picked up a goal in the 70th minute en route to a 3-1 victory in the championship game of the St. Paul's Holiday Invitational Tournament. Jesuit (18-0) won the tournament for the second consecutive year and fourth time in five years. "I tried to bring in some fresher legs and put (St. Paul's) under a little more pressure," Collins said. "They seemed to find a second wind halfway through the second half. This was our 16th game in 26 days. Our legs were a little bit gone on us, but our guys showed a lot of character and determination." Senior Patrick Culotta scored two goals in the first half to put the Blue Jays on top 2-0. The first came in the 18th minute, set up by a header from Alexi Petrou. The second came four minutes later when Patrick Warwick crossed a pass to Culotta through the box. "I hadn't been finishing very well all week," Culotta said. "I picked it up today, and it's a good thing I did, because it worked out well." The goal for St. Paul's (12-3) came on a penalty kick by Adrian McInnis after he'd been fouled in the box. The goal was the only one Jesuit allowed in four games at the tournament. "It was a goal we set for ourselves coming into this tournament," Collins said. "We've given up some silly goals, so we really wanted to make a statement from a defensive point of view." Jesuit put the game out of reach when Stephen Cabos scored on a free kick. St. Paul's Coach Sean Moser said he was pleased with his team's play, despite a few lapses that led to Jesuit's two early goals. "They're organized and confident," Moser said of Jesuit. "Going into the game, if you had polled their players, 100 percent of them would have said they're going to win. If you would poll my players, 60 percent would have said we have a chance. I said after the game, 'Now we know we can play with them, and we're getting better.' " |
Jesuit Shuts Out St. Thomas More and Lafayette to Earn Berth in Finals 
Junior Brian Barbara (3) moves the ball in to position for the Jays in
an earlier game at the Holiday Classic. Brian scored one of the
three winning goals in the semifinal match against Lafayette.
Jesuit - Northlake Christian Soccer Photo Gallery The following article is courtesy of The Times-Picayune and nola.com. JESUIT 3, LAFAYETTE 0: Stephen Cabos and Brian Barbara scored first-half goals, and Joey LaVenia added one in the second half, pushing the Blue Jays to a semifinal win. Cabos put Jesuit (18-0) ahead 1-0 with a goal in the 20th minute. Barbara gave the Jays a 2-0 lead in the 35th minute after racing past Lafayette's defense to finish a through pass. LaVenia's goal came in the 68nd minute. He placed a pass from Alexi Petrou into the left front corner of the goal. Jesuit Coach Hubie Collins said his team focused on playing with sharpness after a lackluster win earlier in the day. "We wanted to come out here and prove a point to ourselves of how well we're capable of playing," he said. "We went after the game early and scored a couple of early goals to put them on their back heels, and then the third goal was the finisher." By Peter Steinbauer St. Paul's Holiday Invitational:
Game Summaries for Tuesday, December 29 Jesuit (3) vs. St. Thomas More (0)
Goals scored by senior Alex Brignac, junior John-Michael Warriner, and senior
Jordan Schwartz Jesuit (3) vs. Lafayette (0) [Semifinal]
Goals scored by juniors Steven Cabos, Brian Barbara, and Joey LaVenia |
Blue Jays Shut Out Their First Two Opponents in Annual St. Paul's Holiday Invitational Tournament 
On a fast break, senior Patrick Warwick is moments away from scoring Jesuit’s first goal
in the opening game against the Northlake Christian Wolverines in St. Paul’s Holiday
Invitational Tournament. Alexi Petrou also scored a second half goal for the Jays and,
combined with their stout defense, shut out the Wolverines, 2-0. In the afternoon game
against East Ascension, Petrou’s solo goal, along with an impenetrable defense,
earned the Blue Jays’ their second shutout of the tourney, 1-0.
The second day of the tournament (Tuesday, December 29) begins
with a 9 a.m. match between Jesuit and St. Thomas More
at St. Paul’s Stadium (NOT the CYSA field). The tournament,
which Jesuit won last year, concludes on Wednesday.
Jesuit - Northlake Christian Soccer Photo Gallery
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High School Classic Champions! Jesuit Soccer Brighter than the Sunshine State's Best
Jays Defeat Defending Florida 6A Champion Melbourne in 4-3 PK Shootout to Win Tournament
In a game earlier this season, senior Andrew Moise heads the ball after falling
to the ground. Jesuit travelled to Tampa Bay and defeated five Florida
soccer squads, including the defending 6A state champions Melbourne
in the Wednesday afternoon finals. When time expired in the finals,
the game was tied 1-1. Jesuit won the contest and
the tournament in a PK shootout, 4-3.
High School Soccer Classic Photo Gallery
Congratulations to Two Blue Jays Named to the
High School Soccer Classic All-Tournament Team 
Junior Steven Cabos
Offensive MVP
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Senior Joe Hart
Defensive MVP
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Read more about the High School Soccer Classic
All-Team members at Tampa Bay Online. |
Read about the Jays win in the quarterfinals over Sickles and in the semifinals over Countryside from Tampa Bay Online, the St. Pete Times, and ESPNrise.com. The Jesuit varsity soccer team continued their winning ways with a Monday afternoon 1-0 SO win over Bishop Verot to advance to the quarterfinals against Sickles. The Blue Jays started the tournament with a 4-2 win over Jesuit Tampa. Read more about the Jays’ first win at Tampa Bay Online. Quote from the tournament (courtesy of ESPNrise.com):
“You know, on paper last year we were ranked No.1 in the nation, and (Melbourne) was ranked No.2, so from that end of it we were saying ‘let’s go to an event like this so we can really see how good we are on the field’. I think from that end of it I think it says a lot about these young men, about their character to come down here for five days before Christmas, to come here and come out as champions.” — New Orleans Jesuit coach Hubie Collins. |
Blue Jays Swoop Down on Falcons, Letting Their Feet Do the Talking in Shutting Out St. Thomas Aquinas, 5-0 
Heads Up! Seniors Alexi Petrou (11) and Patrick Warwick jump high in response to a corner kick from junior Stephen Cabos in Wednesday evening’s soccer match at Pan American Stadium
against the Falcons from St. Thomas Aquinas. On this play, Petrou’s header was placed
perfectly and opened the scoring for the Blue Jays, who went on to shut out the Falcons, 5-0.
Petrou made a soccer sandwich of sorts by also scoring Jesuit’s fifth and final goal.
The other three goals were accounted for by Cabos, who drilled a bullet from 30 yards out,
and senior Andrew Moise, who scored twice in the second half.
Jesuit vs. St. Thomas Aquinas Soccer Photo Gallery
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Jesuit Soccer's 3-0 Win Sends Catholic Bears into Early Hibernation
Jesuit’s varsity soccer team travelled to Baton Rouge Saturday afternoon to play
the Catholic Bears. On a cold afternoon,
the Jays returned to New Orleans with a convincing 3-0 win. Goals were scored by seniors John Barbara, Patrick Culotta, and junior Steven Cabos. Jesuit returns to action on Wednesday when the Jays host St. Thomas Aquinas at Pan American Stadium. Kickoff is slated for
5 PM. | 
In a game earlier this season, junior
Steven Cabos advances the ball.
Steven scored one of Jesuit’s
three goals on Saturday against
the Catholic Bears.
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The following article is courtesy of the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate. Jesuit Wears Down Catholic Defense
Defending state champs blank Bears, 3-0 By FRED ALDRICH
Special to The Advocate
Published: Dec 6, 2009 Catholic High played 78 minutes of shutout soccer against Jesuit on Saturday afternoon, but the Bears gave up two goals in one offensive burst and another goal in the closing minute in a 3-0 nondistrict loss. Catholic (3-3-1) played a strong defensive game against the offensive-minded defending Class 5A state champions, but they may have carried their game plan to an extreme. “You can’t defend that long against a team that good,” Catholic coach Bo Cassidy said. “Eventually you’re going to break down and leave a gap somewhere and that’s what happened. “Our guys gave a great effort, but you just have to keep the ball more.” The Bears fought Jesuit (7-0) to a scoreless tie through the first half, but the visitors broke through for goals in the 48th and 49th minutes. The first goal came on a header off a corner kick. Stephen Cabos served a perfect high ball to John Barbara who went head and shoulders above the pack in front of the goal to head the ball in. Less than a minute later midfielder Patrick Culotta got a good hop on a shot from 25 yards out, which skipped under Catholic goalkeeper Ryan Frick. That goal came at the end of a six-on-three counterattack mounted by the Blue Jays. Cabos added the last goal on a rebound off a save by Frick after a shot by Andrew Moise in the 79th minute for the 3-0 final. “It was good that Culotta and Cabos got their goals, because they worked hard all day,” Jesuit coach Hubie Collins said. “Early on I thought their goalkeeper (Frick) made some heroic saves. We had quite a few chances, and I think because they were stopping us they played with more confidence. “The first goal was the straw that broke their back, and the second goal allowed us to play with a comfortable lead. Our team is so offensive-minded, and sometimes that can hurt you, but it worked out well today.” Most of the Blue Jays’ offense went through Cabos as the junior midfielder took corner kicks, free kicks, and served the ball at the end of several attacks. In addition to his assist and goal, he barely missed a shot that flew over the crossbar, and he dropped a perfect lead pass to John-Michael Warriner for a shot that Frick saved. Frick and his defensive mates also had to clear several balls that Cabos bent into scoring position on free kicks and corners. Frick made the defensive play of the day in the 21st minute when he came out of the goal and chased down a shot from behind and slapped it away. Wes Brogden stopped another apparent Jesuit goal in the 46th minute when he kicked away an open header from the mouth of the goal. The Bears offensive threats were infrequent. In the 33rd minute, freshman Trey Poche showed good ball control on a run up the middle through several defenders before he was taken down outside the box. Alex Bujenovic’s free kick bounced of the Jesuit wall. Catholic had one more flurry in the 68th minute on another Poche advance and two corner kicks but couldn’t get the ball in the net before Cabos’ final goal salted the game away. “Trey Poche was one of the guys who played with composure today,” Cassidy said. “He did a good job of weaving in and out of some tight places.” Andrew Blanchard was another stalwart on the Catholic defense, stopping two Jesuit attacks with clean slide tackles. Although Jesuit goalkeeper Joseph Hart was not forced to make any saves, Collins credited him with being a key part of the defense. “I thought Joe was exceptional today, especially on set pieces,” he said. “He punched out several balls to turn the ball around.” |
Son of a Gun, Jesuit Soccer Have Good Fun at dBayou Invitational! Blue Jays Remain Undefeated to Win 2009 Dutchtown Bayou Invitational
That’s Using Your Head, Alexis! Senior Alexis Petrou (11) scores on this great
play to give the Jays a 2-0 lead. When time expired, Friday morning, the
Blue Jays won their opening season game against University High, 4-1.
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Bayou Invitational: Jesuit-University High Photo Gallery Friday Matches Jesuit 4
University High 1 Jesuit 3
East Ascension 0 | Saturday Matches Jesuit 4 Jesuit 2
Catholic BR 0 Acadiana 0 (Finals) Jesuit 4
Dutchown 1 (Semifinals) |
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Jesuit 2009 State Championship Soccer Team Attains Number 1
National Rankings in Two Respected Polls
# 1 team in the USA in two polls: the 2009 state champions from Jesuit High School
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Jesuit High School’s 2009 state championship soccer team has been twice honored as the number one team in the nation by ESPNrise.com as well as in a poll by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/ Adidas.
ESPNrise.com, part of the network which focuses exclusively on covering high school sports across the country, noted that Jesuit Dallas topped the rankings for the first 16 weeks before Jesuit New Orleans grabbed the spot in the final two weeks. “The New Orleans powerhouse becomes the first winter FAB 50 No. 1 from a state other than California, Florida or Texas,” wrote Sheldon Shealer of ESPNrise.com. In the comments alongside the rankings, ESPNrise.com noted that Jesuit New Orleans had captured the Division I state title and their season was complete. “Mark Reuther scored twice and was named MVP as Jesuit capped an undefeated season with a 3-1 state final victory over Captain Shreve,” the web site stated. “Jesuit's top player, Patrick Mullins, a junior who has verbally committed to Maryland, missed the state tournament while competing for the (U.S. Olympic) Region III team in Argentina.” The NSCAA/Adidas #1 ranking of Jesuit New Orleans came in the April 21 final poll of the season. Four previous polls had Jesuit New Orleans ranked as high as #2 before falling two spots to the #4 position. Among the criteria the NSCAA/Adidas poll considers when ranking teams are: - Overall won-loss percentage;
- Strength of schedule;
- Traditional strength of league, state and/or region;
- Inter-regional results;
- Other pertinent information such as top players, state playoff results, etc.
“This is a great honor for our soccer team and the entire Jesuit community is proud of the terrific accomplishments of our soccer players,” said Jesuit athletic director David Moreau.
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Blue Jay Named Gatorade Louisiana Boys Soccer Player of the Year Patrick Mullins Is the Fifth Gatorade Louisiana Boys Soccer Player of the Year from Jesuit
Congratulations to Patrick Mullins for winning the 2008 - 2009 Gatorade
Louisiana Boys Soccer Player of the Year. Patrick (with plaque) is pictured
with his coach Hubie Collins (left). his brother Andrew, who received
the Gatorade Soccer Player of the Year Award in 2007,
and Jesuit athletic director David Moreau.
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The Gatorade Company, in partnership with ESPN RISE, has named Patrick Mullins its 2008- 2009 Gatorade Louisiana Boys Soccer Player of the Year. The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Mullins as Louisiana’s best high school boys soccer player. Mullins is now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year award. |
Blue Jays Named to 2009 Soccer All-State Team The Louisiana High School Soccer Coaches' Association recently announced the 2009 Boys' Academic All-State Team. Four Blue Jay Soccer players have been named to the squad,
including Zach Correa, Midfielder; Chris DeRojas, Forward;
Trey Kramer, Defender; and Michael Simmons, Midfielder. |
Five Blue Jays and Coach Lead The Times-Picayune
All-Metro Soccer Team
Sophomore Steven Cabos
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Senior Charles Kleinschmidt
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Junior Patrick Mullins
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Senior Trey Kramer
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Senior Mark Reuther
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Coach Hubie Collins (right)
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Congratulations to seniors Charles Kleinschmidt, Mark Reuther, junior Patrick Mullins and sophomore Steven Cabos for being named to The Times-Picayune’s All-Metro Soccer team.
Additional honors were bestowed on Jesuit soccer coach Hubie Collins as Metro Coach of the Year and to junior Patrick Mullins as the Metro Soccer Player of the Year. Jays Fill the All-District Soccer Team Congratulations to those Blue Jays named to the All-District Soccer Team, including Stephen Andrieu (Goalkeeper), Trey Kramer (Defender),
Daniel Moise (Midfielder), Patrick Mullins (Midfielder), Mark Reuther (Forward), Charles Kleinschmidt (Forward). |
(The following article is courtesy of The Times-Picayune and nola.com)ACCOLADES OF THE UNBEATEN Jesuit's Collins, Mullins head TP's All-Metro Soccer award winners
Thursday, March 19, 2009 By Tammy Nunez Staff writer
It was a team for the ages. Just three times in Jesuit's storied soccer history have the Blue Jays gone undefeated. One of the times was this season. Jesuit (31-0-2) performed that task with precision, thanks to a lineup of talent that meshed into an unstoppable team. That credit goes to The Times-Picayune's All-Metro Soccer Coach of the Year, Hubie Collins. "I think he was probably, in my opinion, the most vital piece to having our success," midfielder/striker Patrick Mullins said. "Hubie was important in making sure we stayed focused all season." Mullins played no small part. He was Collins' star among stars and is the All-Metro Player of the Year. Mullins' last feat of the high school soccer season was to score two goals in the semifinals and launch the Blue Jays back into the final for the first time since 2007. Jesuit rallied to defeat Captain Shreve 3-1 in the state championship. Mullins did not play in the final match because he was representing the United States Region III in an Olympic Development match in Argentina the weekend of the state championship. Everything he did all season, though, was enough. It's the second consecutive season Mullins received the honor. "I'm very proud to get (the award)," Mullins said. "I worked hard to get it. Obviously, it doesn't happen a lot to win it two years in a row. I'm lucky enough to be blessed with a good team and be able to showcase my ability." Mullins had a part in the state championship, even though he didn't step on the Independence Bowl turf that Saturday. He gathered the Blue Jays after the semifinals victory and told them they were a team, and missing one person wouldn't weaken the team. "I don't think there were really any adjustments," Mullins said. "The next person stepped in and did the job that could be done." Jesuit overcame a rocky start with the two-goal margin of victory. Not everyone had such an easy championship. Drew Starling, the Newman goalkeeper, played four overtimes in the Greenies' Division III state championship match. Starling, the Defensive Specialist of the Year, was tested in each step of the playoffs, with Newman winning tight matches to earn the right to avenge last season's 1-0 loss to St. Thomas Aquinas in the championship. In the final, Starling weathered two 10-minute overtime periods and one five-minute sudden-death period before the Greenies scored the winning shot for the 2-1 victory against University. The third metro-area champion also pulled in postseason awards. St. Scholastica won the Division I title and did so in large part to the versatility of Tricia Johnson, a forward who was moved to her natural position of defense during crucial games. She was one of the Doves' leading goal scorers and was deadly on headers from corner kicks. However, she also provided lock-down defense in St. Scholastica's second-round district victory against Fontainebleau. Johnson, who will play for LSU next season, played defense in the state championship match against Fontainebleau, as well. For this reason, she is the Times-Picayune All-Metro Girls Player of the Year. The defensive specialist award goes to Mandeville goal-keeper Amy Howard. She also was the St. Tammany Parish girls basketball player of the year, the reason she couldn't make all the district soccer matches. But Howard's true sport is soccer, and she will play at Auburn next season. Against the high-scoring Doves, Howard held St. Scholastica to an own goal. One of her teammates, in trying to clear a shot, nudged the ball into the net. It was one of the few allowed all season. "It's awesome to get (the soccer award)," Howard said. "It's more surprising than the basketball one, because I did play in less games than other keepers. But it's awesome." Howard said Johnson and St. Scholastica's Mike Ortner, the Metro Coach of the Year, were well-deserving of their honors. "They are loaded," Howard said of the Doves. "I have played with probably half of their team in club ball. They all work so well together. I've played with Tricia since U-12's (club-age level soccer). She plays center (defense). She just tears it up." Of Ortner, Howard said: "He's a great coach; he's coached me since I was really little. He knows the players really well." |
Jesuit Blue Jays: Soccer State Champions
Jesuit Captures "The Ship" Over Captain Shreve, 3-1
Jesuit’s undefeated soccer team celebrates with the state trophy after the championship game at Independence Stadium in Shreveport.
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Jesuit-Capt. Shreve Soccer Final Photo Gallery
LHSAA Division I Playoff Brackets (The following article is courtesy of The Times-Picayune and nola.com) Jesuit Rallies to Gain 9th State Soccer Title
Sunday, March 01, 2009 By Tammy Nunez Staff writer
SHREVEPORT -- Jesuit is a dynasty in Division I boys soccer. And the powerhouse added its ninth state championship soccer trophy to the case on Saturday after defeating Captain Shreve 4-1 in front of a Gator-fan-heavy Independence Stadium crowd. It is the third time the Blue Jays (31-0-2) have finished a season undefeated. But it wasn't easy early. Jesuit played without its most acclaimed player, forward Patrick Mullins, because of a previously scheduled Olympic Development regional appearance in Argentina. Missing him and weathering a fierce Captain Shreve opening push put Jesuit behind. The Gators mounted an attack in the 10th minute of the match that paid off. Brennan Randel broke off his defender and zipped a cross to Will Monsour, who kicked a hard shot into the left side of the net. "We're used to being down," said Jesuit forward Mark Reuther, who was selected the most outstanding player for scoring two goals. "The last few games we've been down and we clawed our way back, and we did it again tonight." Captain Shreve held the lead until the 33rd minute. That was when Jesuit's Michael Simmons headed Stephen Cabos' corner kick with precision into the goal to tie the score at 1. "If he hadn't gotten that goal, I don't know if we would have been able to come back," Reuther said. "That was a big momentum change." Reuther is in his first season back after breaking his femur in half playing soccer during his sophomore year. He was a part of the Blue Jays' state championship swim team this fall and got his second championship of the school year. Reuther scored twice in a 10-minute span in the second half on one-on-ones with the Captain Shreve goalkeeper Matt Green. The first goal broke the deadlock in the 60th minute. Reuther took a feed from Zach Correa and drew Green out of the net. Reuther toed the ball to the right of Green for the goal and a 2-1 lead. "Oh, that was a great ball, it was the best ball I've seen in forever," Reuther said. "I knew it was going in; I started going crazy before it went in." By the time Reuther made the second goal in the 70th minute, the Blue Jays were back where they have been all season: dominating. Jesuit Coach Hubie Collins said Reuther's confidence made a huge difference. "He is a very composed player, and when he gets himself into those situations he's got a knack and eye for the goal," Collins said. "And his finishing was excellent. He kept the ball low and drove under the goalkeeper. Maybe a lesser player would have panicked or got nervous in that situation. But I think he must have ice blood flowing through those veins." The match ended up as advertised. The top two seeds in the bracket met for a championship. But in the end, the program accustomed to making it to the finals won. It was the Gators' (28-3) first state championship appearance. "We came out in the first half a little flat, and I think Shreveport was able to capitalize on that," Collins said. "I was delighted we were able to respond to that. We kind of said, 'Look, let's stick to our game plan and not panic. Let's not worry about the fact we are playing into a strong wind.' And the boys came out and did stick to that, and we were able to get the go-ahead goal."
(The following article is courtesy of The Shreveport Times.com)
Jesuit Tops Shreve
Blue Jays surge in 2nd half to win
By Kelly Morris- March 1, 2009/ The Shreveport Times The Captain Shreve boys soccer team knew it would have to play the game of its lives to take down perennial powerhouse Jesuit in its first Division I championship game. For a half, the Gators did play the game of their lives. They just couldn't maintain it. No. 1 Jesuit scored two goals in the second half to cap a 3-1 win on Saturday and capture its eighth state title. The Blue Jays clinched the title at Independence Stadium without star forward Patrick Mullins in their lineup. The Blue Jays also finished the season undefeated — the same thing they did when they won their last title in 2007. "This doesn't take away from what we did this year," Gators coach Matt Smith said. "We came out on the wrong side, but we did everything we could. I couldn't be prouder. I wouldn't coach another team in the state." The Gators fought through chilly conditions. It was 44 degrees at game time and only got colder and windier as the game went on. The game was tied 1-1 at halftime, but Division I finals MVP Mark Reuther scored both of Jesuit's goals in the second half. Reuther's first goal was set up off a Shreve defensive miscue. "It took us down a little bit," Shreve sophomore forward Connor Randel said. "We just couldn't get back into the game." Said Shreve senior forward Brennan Randel: "We lost the momentum at that point. We really lost the momentum after their first goal. It's hard to come back against such a great defense. It's hard to score more than that." The Gators' game plan against Jesuit was simple. Take control of the game early. The Gators, a usually slow-starting team, scored the game's first goal in the 10th minute. Brennan Randel fed senior defender Will Monsour a short pass and Monsour scored from inside the box. Monsour moved to midfield on the play. "I thought we had the game at that point," Brennan Randel said. "I thought be could keep them out of the net. It just wasn't our day." Jesuit nearly scored just a second before Shreve's goal. Charles Kleinschmidt and Reuther broke to the net untouched. Shreve senior goalkeeper Matt Green had a point-blank save on a Kleinschmidt, but Reuther was there for the rebound. Green got a piece of the ball with his glove. Shreve couldn't escape the first half with a 1-0 lead. Midfielder Michael Simmons headed a ball into the net off a Stephen Cabos corner kick in the 31st minute. The game also got physical. Connor Randel and Jesuit's Colin Sens had a collision early in the first and Brennan Randel got tripped on a breakaway. No penalty was called and Brennan Randel argued it and was given a yellow card. The Gators had a stiff wind going against them in the second half. Reuther's second goal came in the 69th minute. The senior easily deked around the Shreve defense and scored from close range. It was the final varsity game for Shreve's six seniors. Brennan Randel, the team's leading scorer, played in his last varsity game with younger brother Connoe "It's just been a great experience playing with him," Brennan Randel. "It's definitely emotional for me. Win or lose, I'd be crying right now." |
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