By DAVID ERSOFF, Journal Sports
HAMMOND – Getting there was all the fun Thursday for the Bossier Bearkats soccer team, which fell 4-1 to The Willow School in the LHSAA Division III boys’ state championship game.
It was a breakthrough, walking onto the field at Strawberry Stadium for the first time. Bossier reached the season’s final game with statewide superiority at stake. Last year’s Bearkats blazed new ground, reaching the semifinals, and this year’s squad took the final step through the playoff bracket.
But the Lions were in familiar territory. Experience appeared to be the difference, as they have been in the state finals three of the last four years and have now captured two titles.
The Willow School (17-4-5) moved on top just two minutes into action. Although Bossier (23-3-2) later closed within 2-1, the second-seeded Bearkats weren’t able to catch up to the fourth-seeded winners, who opened a 3-1 halftime advantage.
Considering the Bearkats had allowed only 10 goals in their previous 25 games, the Lions’ scoring outburst was a surprise, especially since the teams played to an 0-0 stalemate in New Orleans on Nov. 19.
Both teams brought large crowds. Bossier brought three busloads of fans and many others came by car. Both crowds were loud and proud of their teams, all the way to the end and beyond it.
This game was not for the faint of heart, as there were countless fouls; the referee showed five yellow cards.
The Lions started fast, getting a corner kick in the second minute of the game. William McDermott got in the end of that corner to put The Willow School up early.
A few minutes later, Bearkat keeper Logan Bamburg stopped a one-on-one threat to hold the deficit at 1. But it stayed that way just for just two more minutes, until Sebastian Salm hit a free kick from 45 yards that went in the net in the upper corner and the Lions were up 2-0.
Bossier finally struck back.
In the 28th minute, Rony Carcamo hit a 50-yard through ball that Jeison Sanchez tipped with his head from the top of the box, sailing it over the Lions’ keeper to cut the lead in half.
The one-goal deficit tantalized the Bossier faithful for the next 20-plus minutes.
With five minutes left in the half, the Lions put the ball in the box. A Bearkat defender tried to clear the ball, but it headed toward his own goal. Bamberg slapped the ball out, but it was shot back in. Bamberg saved it again but The Willow School’s Alexander Lupin tapped it in for the 3-1 advantage the Lions carried into halftime.
The Bearkats started well in the second half with a shot off the crossbar, and some dangerous runs, but couldn’t get their second goal. With 21 minutes into the second half, the Lions got a breakaway when eventual player of the match Tenchi Otten-Rashad beat Bamberg on a one-on-one for the final goal of the game.
The excitement was rekindled for the Bearkats when in the 70th minute Sanchez hit a bicycle kick from the top of the box, but it went just wide.
After Bossier received its state runner-up trophy, senior Christobal Cruz presented the fans with it. The Bossier fan base has been extremely loyal all season and the players did this to show their appreciation.
Bossier coach Orlando Medellin simply said, “We will be back,” in the postgame talk to his squad. Assistant coach Gerardo Martinez told the Bearkats how proud he was of them, then added, “Learn from today. Ask questions and come back stronger.”
The Bossier team headed home bolstered by the pride in back-to-back trailblazing seasons. Now there’s one final hurdle to clear, and the Bearkats will know the territory when they make another trip to Strawberry Stadium.
Contact David at dersoff@bellsouth.net