Dularge Middle sets bar for educating the poor
February 22, 2011Thursday, Feb. 24
February 24, 2011
The Vandebilt boys’ soccer team was left for dead by many in non-district play.
Someone call a doctor, because the Terriers are alive and kickin’ and are going to the state championship game.
Thanks to a possession-dominating offensive attack and relentless defense, the Terriers rolled into the state finals Saturday afternoon, blanking Alexandria 2-0 in the State Semifinals at Buddy Marcello Stadium.
The win marked redemption for the Terriers who have shrugged off naysayers all year who wrote the team off after its 0-4 start to the season.
“People have been giving us a bad rap all year,” Terriers’ coach Matt Kelso said. “But hopefully we can just put some of those guys to rest now and hopefully people will start respecting us again.”
The reasons for Vandebilt’s early season struggles are two-fold, according to Kelso.
First, the Terriers dealt with an inexperienced roster depleted by injuries and the loss of several seniors last season. To top it off, the young players were tested early against Vandebilt’s always brutal non-district schedule.
Despite the bumps in the road, Kelso said he never doubted his squad’s abilities, no matter what was said in opposing stadiums or on Internet message boards across the state.
“It’s all about matchups at the end of the day and in non-district, we were playing the best teams in the state and some of the best teams in the country,” Kelso said. “And we weren’t shying away from that, because we knew it was all preparation for what this game was tonight.”
The “this game tonight” Kelso referenced was a matchup Vandebilt controlled from the start, using first half goals by Bryce Adams and James Daigle to put the team on top early and for the duration of the match.
From there, Vandebilt used its powerful defense to lock down and put away the Trojans. With the shutout, the Terriers have now shut out seven-straight opponents – a streak that dates back to a Jan. 20 matchup with Lafayette.
With the win, the Terriers will reunite with an old friend in the state championship game – St. Louis.
It was the Saints who ended Vandebilt’s playoff run a year ago, scoring a 2-1 win in the state championship game played in Houma.
This time, the Terriers will travel to Lake Charles on Saturday at 6 p.m., with visions of ruining the party on the Saints’ home field, much like St. Louis did a year ago.
“The same team as last year and this time, we’re going to make sure it’s a different result,” Adams said. “We remember last year’s game vividly. Too vividly.”
Daigle agreed, but said he will caution his teammates to put last year’s wounds in the past.
Because after all, just like the naysayers have said all along, this year’s team isn’t the same bunch that fell short last year.
“Last year was a different year than this year,” Daigle said. “We’re two different teams. But I can assure you the battle will be with the same intensity as it was last year and it’s going to be very emotional. It will be a good game.”
The definition of “good” will likely depend on the final score for Kelso, who has just one thing in mind.
“I’m going to have to win it this year, right?” Kelso said with a laugh. “I’m going to have to go there and this time, I’m going to have to win.”
Maybe then people will realize Vandebilt soccer is alive and well, after all.
Girls’ move to state finals, await Teurlings Catholic:
The Vandebilt boys weren’t the only local team to make it to the state finals.
They weren’t the only Vandebilt team, either.
Joining the Terriers in the state championship game will be the Lady Terriers, who punched their ticket to the finals by pouncing Neville 5-0 in the state semifinals Thursday.
The win will mark the fourth-straight season the Lady Terriers participate in the state championship game.
“It’s unbelievable for the girls and it’s hard to believe that we’ve been there four years in a row,” Vandebilt girls’ soccer coach Philip Amedee said.
With the win, the Lady Terriers will take on Teurlings Catholic Friday night at Marcello Stadium at a time unavailable as of press time.
In that match, the Lady Terriers will also be fighting to avenge last year’s heartbreak, as like the boys’ team, the Vandebilt girls also lost in the state finals a year ago.
But that hasn’t bothered the Lady Terriers a bit recently, as they’ve outscored opponents 21-1 in their three playoff wins.
“Of course, we fell short last year, so the girls have kind of planted that in their minds and have used that as motivation all year long,” Amedee said. “I think we’re up to the task. The girls will be ready.”
Vandebilt Catholic’s Paul Pinson jockeys for position with an Alexandria defender during Saturday’s 2-0 win. CASEY GISCLAIR
