Jesuit Muffs Several Goal Opportunities in a Head-scratching Scoreless Tie Against John Ehret

In the second half, the Jays continued to bang their heads against the ball, creating several chances to score, but leaving the net empty. On this corner kick in front of the Patriots’ goal, junior Brandon DeRoJas (4) and senior Evan Hatrel (8) try unsuccessfully to head the ball into the John Ehret goal. Junior Braden Brignac (9) and senior Trey Aucoin (20) are ready if the ball comes their way.

Jesuit’s Next Opponent: In their second district game, the Jays (7-3-4) will take on L.W. Higgins (1-4), which lost to Brother Martin, 7-0, before the Christmas Holiday break.
When: Thursday, January 5, 2017
Kickoff: 4 PM
Where: John Ryan Stadium
Admission: $6 adults; Blue Jay students and Higgins students with IDs are free; students from other schools and children ages 6-11 pay $3.

Into the Lens: View the Jesuit – John Ehret Soccer Photo Gallery

Into the Lens: View Jesuit’s 2016-17 Varsity Soccer Photo Galleries

It took less than a minute for the Jays to get their first break in Tuesday’s opening district match against the John Ehret Patriots.

Jesuit’s Christian de Gracia broke with the ball to the left side, wide open. As he dribbled at breakneck speed, a defender cut off any possible shot by deftly kicking the ball out of bounds. At the same time, the Patriot defender caught de Gracia’s right foot and the diminutive junior striker went down hard inside the box.

Junior striker Christian de Gracia is about to be taken down on this play inside the box in the first minute of the match on Tuesday at John Ryan Stadium. de Gracia’s PK was blocked by the Patriots’ goalie.

It was the first of many, many breaks that came the Jays’ way. de Gracia’s penalty kick, however, was booted right at the Ehret goalie, who sent the ball ricocheting out of bounds behind the goal. The Jays took a corner kick, the first of maybe half a dozen in the opening minutes. None found its mark. The Jays must have hit either the sidebar or the crossbar some three times in the first half. Each time, the ball bounced crazily away from the Patriots’ goal.

Thirty-eight minutes of the 40-minute first half unfolded in front of the John Ehret goal as the Jays dominated on offense, but the scoreboard displayed two goose eggs as the ref’s whistle ended the opening act. For the Jays, it was a frustrating way to start district play.

“The first half we completely controlled the game, we completely dominated, we had all the possessions,” said Coach Hubie Collins. “We created probably three, if not four, quality goal-scoring opportunities, including a penalty kick. We didn’t convert those and then — credit John Ehret — they had a little bit of belief starting the second half. Ehret got through the first half, and then as the game went on I thought we lost a little bit of composure, and the Patriots kept their cool at the back. We never really carved out many quality chances in the second half even though we had all the possessions.”

Senior defender Vincent Baumer (3) and senior midfielder Patrick Reese soar for this header on a corner kick in the opening minutes of Jesuit’s match against John Ehret on Tuesday at John Ryan Stadium. The Jays had four or five chances to score in the opening 15 minutes of the match, but could not get the ball into the net.

When the final whistle sounded, the Patriots looked euphoric “as if they won the Super Bowl,” in the biting words of one Blue Jay player who was clearly disappointed with his team’s effort that resulted in their fourth tied game of the season. That all four tied matches were scoreless were of little consolation to the players. Previously, the Jays tied E.D. White in tournament play on November 25, Ben Franklin on Nov. 30 at The Ryan, and Sacred Heart (MS) in a Mississippi tournament on December 3.

Jesuit’s three losses have been slim 1-0 non-district games, including against Catholic High on Nov. 25 in tournament play, and Brother Martin on Dec. 17 in the St. Paul’s Holiday Tournament.

The Jays have a chance to get even with Catholic when the Bears travel to The Ryan on Saturday, Jan. 7, for a non-district match that starts at 1 p.m. The match also heralds a special occasion: It’s the Jays’ 2017 Soccer Homecoming at which the state championship teams of 1987, 2002, and 2007 will be recognized.

Even when not much is clicking — yet — for the 2016-17 Blue Jays, Coach Collins can find an elusive strand of blue & white lining.

Catching this corner kick on the fly was easy for junior goalkeeper Shane Lanson, who made two difficult saves in the match against Ehret.

“We had several great opportunities, so from that end of it, you’re pleased as a coach that your team is creating chances and not giving up many chances,” he said. “But from the number of corner kicks, and set pieces, and free kicks that we get, we have to do a better job of getting around the end of those from an attacking standpoint.”

In the seven games the Jays won, four were 1-0 shutouts and two were 2-1 victories. A 2-0 shutout over Mandeville on Dec. 21 was the Jays’ largest margin of victory.

“Most of our games have only been won by a goal or two, so it’s not like we’ve been lightening up,” said Coach Collins. “Defensively, again another shutout, and very pleased with that from a coach’s aspect. But we didn’t get a goal so we drew the game.”