LHSAA Soccer Playoffs: Upsets Mark Path to Quarterfinals
A thrilling round of Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) soccer playoffs concluded Thursday, February 12, with several unexpected results propelling teams into the quarterfinals. Four area schools secured their spots in the next round, setting the stage for intense competition.
Boys Division I: Jesuit Dominates, Northshore and Mandeville Stun Opponents
Jesuit delivered a commanding performance, shutting out Dutchtown 6-0 at John Ryan Stadium. Jacob Kee spearheaded the Blue Jays’ attack with two goals, supported by scores from Andrew Bordelon, Ford Freschertz, Casey Parker-Karst, and Andrew Roussell. With a record of 20-0-2, Jesuit will now host East Ascension in the quarterfinals. East Ascension previously defeated Southside 3-2 on Wednesday.
In a major upset, the No. 13 seed Northshore shocked No. 4 St. Paul’s 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 tie through regulation and overtime. Goalkeeper Adam Boffenmyer proved to be the hero for the Skippers, saving two penalty kicks. This victory is particularly noteworthy considering St. Paul’s had defeated Northshore 5-1 earlier in the regular season. The Panthers (15-5-1) will face No. 5 seed Baton Rouge on Monday at 6 p.m., after Baton Rouge defeated Fontainebleau 3-1 on Wednesday.
Another surprise came as No. 11 Mandeville edged out No. 6 Catholic of Baton Rouge 1-0. The winning goal came off a penalty kick in the 56th minute, courtesy of Danny Zapata. Kingsley Hunt secured a clean sheet in goal for Mandeville, despite a late goal from the Bears being disallowed due to an offside call. The Skippers (16-8-6) will play at No. 3 Denham Springs on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Boys Division II: Neville Advances with Decisive Victory
Neville dominated Ben Franklin, winning 10-2 in a decisive victory that secured their place in the quarterfinals.
Girls Division I: Mount Carmel Academy Continues Undefeated Streak
On the girls’ side, top seed Mount Carmel Academy continued its impressive run, blanking Zachary 4-0. Stella Junius contributed with a goal and an assist, while Olivia Brunet, Josie Randol, and Riley Swanson each added a goal to the scoreboard. Mount Carmel (19-3-4) will host No. 8 Southside in the quarterfinals. Southside advanced after edging West Monroe 2-1 on Wednesday.
LHSAA Playoff Results – February 12
Here’s a recap of Thursday’s results:
Boys Division I
- (1) Jesuit 6, (16) Dutchtown 0
- (13) Northshore 1, (4) St. Paul’s 1 (Northshore advances on PK’s)
- (11) Mandeville 1, (6) Catholic (BR) 0
Division II
- (10) Neville 10, (7) Ben Franklin 2
Girls Division I
- (1) Mount Carmel Academy 4, (16) Zachary 0
- (11) Barbe 1, (6) Mandeville 0
The LHSAA quarterfinals promise more exciting matchups as teams battle for a chance to advance to the semifinals and ultimately compete for the state championship.
