Slugout, Shutout, Double OT, Shootout: Jays Prevail at the Ryan Corral

Posted February 17, 2015 / Last updated February 24, 2015

Jays Win Quarterfinal Match Against Brother Martin in a Shootout, 4-3

Jesuit goalkeeper Otto Candies goes horizontal in an effort to put a glove on Brother Martin’s first penalty kick, which just missed going into the goal.

View the Jesuit – Brother Martin Quarterfinals Match & Overtimes Photo Gallery

View the Jesuit – Brother Martin Shootout Photo Gallery

The quarterfinals playoff match on Mardi Gras between the Blue Jays and the Crusaders was a scoreless tug of war after two 40-minute halves. It remained scoreless after two 10-minute overtimes, and ditto for an additional two 5-minute halves.

The only way to settle the score was by means of an old-fashioned shootout at the John Ryan Corral. One team continues in the playoffs. Soccer is wonderful. And the other team goes home, its season finished. Soccer is cruel.

Jesuit goalie Otto Candies and forward José Aleman run towards the Blue Jay soccer fans after Aleman’s shot gave the Jays a 4-3 edge in penalty kicks and a quarterfinal playoff match win against Brother Martin on Mardi Gras at John Ryan Stadium.

Five Brother Martin shooters against Jesuit goalkeeper Otto Candies. The Crusaders’ goalie faced, in this order, Jack LaForge, Ethan Camet, Patrick LaCour, Christopher Pitre, and José Aleman.

LaForge, LaCour, and Pitre made their shots; three of the Crusaders made theirs. It came down to the fifth Blue Jay, Aleman, who nailed the shot dead-center to the back of the net.

The Jays went wild, along with their fans, some of whom might remember that last year, Jesuit lost to Brother Martin in a shootout for the district championship at the Crusaders’ field. Both teams have experienced the zenith of winning and the pain of not.

Jesuit’s shootout win was tempered by injuries to two key starters. Chris Hebert, a sophomore defensive back, sustained a broken leg when he was slide tackled in the 16th minute. Chase Rushing, Jesuit’s leading scorer and playmaker, limped off the field with a sprained ankle in the 73rd minute.

Jesuit (20-4-4) travels to Lafayette to play Acadiana in the Division 1 semifinals on Saturday, Feb. 21. Kickoff is at 4 p.m.

Nola.com: José Aleman’s final kick helps Jesuit edge Brother Martin in shootout to advance to semifinals

Nola.com: Watch the Jesuit-Brother Martin quarterfinals PK shootout, Blue Jays celebration: Video

Nola.com: Jesuit’s Otto Candies explains how to psych out opponent during shootout: Video

Nola.com: Jesuit’s Jose Aleman says he loves the pressure: Video

Galleries

Soccer 2014-15: Quarterfinal Playoffs; JHS (4) vs Brother Martin (3); Match & Double OTs; John Ryan Stadium, Feb. 17

Dillon Fuchs tries to head the ball but encounters some resistance. Seconds later, the ref blew the whistle ending regulation play.
Patrick LaCour with a header near mid-field.
Michael Pou goes toe-to-toe with this defender.
Otto Candies comes out of the goal to fall on the ball.
The Crusaders come oh-so-close with this kick in the waning minutes of regulation, the ball missing to the right of the goal.
Shortly after Chase Rushing moved the ball on a fast break, he left the game with an injury.
José Aleman looks to pass the ball.
Nick Slay (33), Ethan Camet, and a Crusader look like they're chasing a fumble.
Hunt Navar goes down and the Jays get a free kick.
Otto Candies soars up for the ball but the ref blows the whistle on the Crusaders for interference.
José Aleman takes a corner kick early in the first overtime of two 10-minute halves.
Jack LaForge goes after the ball near the Blue Jay goal.
Hunt Navar saves the ball from going out of bounds.
Ethan Camet leaps for this header. The first overtime period ends with the teams scoreless.
The Jays have an opportunity but cannot convert as the two 5-minute "golden" OTs begin. First team that scores wins.
Jack LaForge with a header.
Patrick Rye (25) and Michael Pou (16) can't get to the ball. As the second tick off the clock in the second 5-minute OT, the legs of the players are turning rubbery.
José Aleman sets up a shot as the whistle blows. Time for the shootout.
Chase Rushing controls the ball.
... LaCour's corner kick is headed by Chase Rushing (7) and Dillon Fuchs (24), but the Crusaders clear the ball from the goal.
In the blink of an eye, the Crusaders have a golden opportunity as Blue Jay goalkeeper Otto Candies finds himself in a one-on-one situation...
... Goalie Otto Candies easily handles this threat as the Crusaders' forward misses the shot.
Jack LaForge takes the ball away from this Crusader.
Dillon Fuchs gets tangled up with the Crusaders' goalie.
Patrick Rye goes up for a header with Chris Hebert (15) next to him. It would be Hebert's last minute on defense for the season...
... Play was stopped for about seven minutes after Chris Hebert encountered a Crusader's sliding tackle. Hebert sustained a broken tibia and fibula and was taken to the hospital for immediate surgery.
Patrick Rye stops the ball and keeps it away from his opponent.
With the match not even one minute old, Patrick LaCour takes a corner kick...
Ethan Camet entered the match in place of Chris Hebert...
... Ethan Camet takes a hard fall which results in a free kick for the Jays.
Chris Pitre sets up a play near the Crusaders' goal.
Dillon Fuchs eyes the ball.
There were several anxious moments near the Blue Jays' goal as (from left) Patrick Rye, Patrick LaCour, Braden Brignac, and Ethan Camet can attest.
Another anxious moment as goalie Otto Candies directs traffic involving Jack LaForge (14), Chase Rushing, and Ethan Camet (3).
Chase Rushing does the mambo.
Otto Candies goes up between two Crusader defenders to snag the ball near the goal.