Jesuit Racks Up 8 Goals in Shutting Out Higgins for First District Win

Ashton Perkins put the Jays on the scoreboard with two back-to-back goals in Thursday’s match against Higgins.

Jesuit’s Next Opponent: The Jays (8-3-4 overall; 1-0-1 district) celebrate Alumni Soccer Homecoming with a non-district game against Catholic High of Baton Rouge. The Bears (3-5-4) shut out Jesuit 1-0 in a tournament earlier this season. “We’re looking forward to a rematch against them for our alumni homecoming game,” said Jesuit head coach Hubie Collins.
When: Saturday, January 7, 2017
Where: John Ryan Stadium
Gates Open: 11:45 AM
Ceremony at 12:45 PM Recognizing Jesuit’s 1987, 2002, & 2007 State Championship Teams
Kickoff: 1 PM
Halftime: Blue Jay alumni and their children will be on Alumni Field kicking soccer balls.
Admission: $6 adults; Blue Jay students and Catholic students must have school IDs to be admitted for $3; also $3 for children ages 6-11; children under 6 are free.

Into the Lens: View the Jesuit – Higgins Soccer Photo Gallery

It was classic Jesuit soccer Thursday afternoon at John Ryan Stadium, even if the visiting opponent was down on its luck with a 1-4 record.

After the Jays spun their wheels in a scoreless tie Tuesday against the scrappy John Ehret Patriots, the boys in Blue & White returned two days later to play another team from Marrero, this one the Hurricanes of L.W. Higgins, an unadorned bunch that in four straight losses coming in had given up 22 goals while scoring only four.

Early in the game, Evan Hatrel (8) heads the ball but the Hurricanes’ goalkeeper makes the save.

In the opening minutes of this Division 1, District 9 match, the Hurricanes almost blew the Jays down when a shot on goal was miraculously saved by Jesuit’s senior goalie Reese Leonhard, starting in place of an injured Shane Lanson (hamstring).

Twenty-six minutes into the match, the Jays were dominating, yet they were having trouble once again finding the goal. The Jays hit the post three times and it took 27 minutes to find the net for their first goal. But after the ice was broken, the Jays’ confidence level skyrocketed and they popped in goals every few minutes.

“Maybe the same tale from Tuesday night, we started the game brightly, created opportunities, took us awhile, but once we got the first couple of goals, we were able to build some confidence and grow on that,” said Coach Hubie Collins. “Reese Leonhard in the goal for us had to make a great save early in the first half just to keep the score at 0-0. As the game grew, our strikers grew in confidence and belief, so it was nice to finally be able to put some goals on the score sheet.”

Coach Hubie Collins (left) talks strategy with assistant coach Dave Storm in Thursday’s match against Higgins at John Ryan Stadium. “Maybe the same tale from Tuesday night, we started the game brightly, created opportunities, took us awhile, but once we got the first couple of goals, we were able to build some confidence and grow on that,” said Coach Collins after the match.

Here’s how the scoring went down for the Jays:

• Ashton Perkins struck twice in rapid succession, lighting up the scoreboard in the 27^th minute. In the 29^th minute, Perkins struck again, with an assist by Jacob Torres, to give Jesuit a 2-0 lead.
• In the 37th minute, Benton Moore made it 3-0 at halftime with his first goal (his first of the season as well). “Jacob Torres was on the right wing and he got the ball in a good position, drawing the goalkeeper out,” said Moore. “Jacob played a real nice ball across the center of the box and it was an easy tap in.”
• When the second half started, Moore scored his second goal in the 48^th minute to make it 4-0.
• In the 55^th minute, Trey Aucoin extended Jesuit’s lead to 5-0.
• Five minutes later, in the 60^th minute, Brett Balser scored with an assist by Braden Brignac.
• Preston Bordes scored in the 70^th minute to increase the lead to 7-0.
• Jacob Torres scored Jesuit’s eighth goal in the 72^nd minute with an assist by Arthur Ross.

Jesuit had a total of 18 shots on goal while the Hurricanes had three. The Jays took eight corner shots versus two for Higgins.

“A couple of guys got their first goals of the season, so it was nice for them as well as the players who have been scoring goals,” Coach Collins noted, adding, “I’m very happy that we kept a clean sheet, no goals allowed, very proud of that, too.”