St. Paul’s Edges Jesuit, 10-9, For Lacrosse State Title
Everything was familiar except for the outcome.
After winning five consecutive Louisiana High School Lacrosse League (LHSLL) state championships — most of them by beating St. Paul’s and three of them earned in Cajun country — the 2017 Blue Jays find themselves with an unfamiliar but respectable title: state runner up.
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On Sunday, April 30, at Cougar Stadium on the campus of St. Thomas More in Lafayette, St. Paul’s jumped out to a 3-0 lead before the Jays tightened up their defense and revved up their offense to make a game of it and tie the contest at 3-3. It was a back and forth affair until the end when, with the Wolves leading 10-9, the Jays had a chance to send the season finale into overtime with just a single second on the scoreboard. Unfortunately, the St. Paul’s goalie stopped a Noah Martin shot to preserve the victory. This time, and this year, it was the Wolves walking away a winner.
Martin and Parker Simoneaux, both seniors, had two goals apiece in the championship game. Seniors Jack Cronvich, Briggs Lucia, Michael Smart had single scores, as did junior Aiden Roberts and sophomore Michael Schmidt. Senior defender Will Crumley scooped up a season-high nine ground balls.
The Jays scored just two times in 11 man-up opportunities.
“We knew it was going to be an uphill climb this year given the loss of so many outstanding seniors, but our guys fought valiantly, which is something they should be very proud of,” said head coach Steve Krobert ’05. “I know I’m proud of them and the effort they gave all season long.”
Just getting to the championship game was more difficult than in past years. On Saturday, April 29, Jesuit jumped on Loyola (Shreveport) early, 5-0, but it took everything the Blue Jays could muster to hold on. Jesuit squeaked by with a 6-5 semi-final victory. The aforementioned Martin led the offensive attack with three goals in the semi-final. Smart, Roberts, and Schmidt add single goals to the tally. Grant Stevens, who had nine saves in the contest, was the winning goalie. Four Jays — Stevens, Martin seniors Will Crumley and Noah Martin, and Clint Romig — picked up three ground balls each. Loyola beat Jesuit earlier in the season.
Three Blue Jays were named to the LHSLL All State Team. Senior attacker Noah Martin and senior midfielder Parker Simoneaux are on the 1st Team. Senior defender Will Crumley, who was outstanding in Sunday’s championship game, is on the 2nd Team. Senior attacker Michael Smart and senior goalie Grant Stevens, and freshman face-off specialist Clark Romig made the Honorable Mention list.