By DAVID ERSOFF, Journal Sports
The Loyola Flyers will play this week for a state championship, but the boys teams from Bossier and Calvary fell one win shy over the weekend.
Loyola, seeded No. 1 in Division III, topped No. 12 Archbishop Hannan 4-3 Friday at Messmer Stadium. The Bossier Bearkats lost 3-0 on the road Saturday at University Lab Saturday. The Cinderella run by Calvary ended abruptly Friday night, in a 6-0 loss at top-seeded Isadore Newman in New Orleans.
The most action-packed game among those semifinals was the one played locally. Loyola (20-2-6) came back from a one-goal deficit three times against No. 12-seeded Archbishop Hannan (11-11-3).
Loyola and Hannan endured on and off cold rain throughout, creating a slick surface that affected play. Hannan struck first, scoring on a corner kick in the 13th minute of the game.
It only took the Flyers three minutes to tie the game when Mathis Stanberry scored, assisted by Whit Sample. Late in the half, Hannan again took a goal lead on another corner. The teams went to halftime with the home team trailing 2-1.
Just three minutes into the second half Loyola tied the game again, when Holt Hamilton scored, also assisted by Sample. Less then 10 minutes later Hannan was back on top.
As the Flyers pushed forward, sophomore defender EJ Kerr saw an opening and hit a bomb from 40 yards that went in the upper right corner of the goal for a 3-3 tie and the home crowd went wild.
Just two minutes later Sample got a goal of his own, the eventual game-winner, assisted by Hollis Brown.
The Flyers played keepaway until the final whistle blew.
Loyola is back in the championship game for the first time since 2019. The Flyers will face the same University Lab team that beat them back in 2019 (a 5-4 loss).
The state final will be played at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Strawberry Stadium on Southeastern Louisiana University’s campus in Hammond.
Bossier (18-7-2) missed out on a chance to face the Flyers. University Lab (20-2-2) prevailed in a 20 mile per hour wind that did come into play.
The Bearkats were playing into the wind in the first half. The Cubs used the wind well to have a slight advantage in possession. Both teams had many solid chances at goal, each hitting the pipe a couple of times. The Cubs scored the only goal of the half when the wind affected a high bouncing ball that got tapped over Bearkat keeper Logan Bamburg.
The second half started well for the Bearkats with the wind. Bossier had the ball going all over the goal, just not in the net.
The Cubs mounted a counterattack halfway through the second half and were able to get the goal to double the lead. Bossier shifted players forward and again had chances, but couldn’t finish. The Cubs got a late penalty kick to round out the scoring.
“Our season didn’t conclude the way we had hoped, but we are immensely proud of this senior class. This exceptional group has set a very high standard for future senior classes,” said Bearkats’ coach Orlando Medelin. “They have elevated the expectations of our program through their hard work and commitment. We are truly proud of these seniors, not only for their dedication on the field but also for their determination and discipline off the field.”
Calvary (15-11-1) had the tough draw to meet undefeated No. 1 Isadore Neman (22-0-1) Friday. The Cavaliers fought hard, only down 2-0 at halftime as keeper Jacob Tibbett had 13 saves. A comeback was not in the cards as Newman’s defense was superior and its pressure eventually broke open the game.
“So proud of this team. None of us thought we would be in the semis when the season started,” said first-year Cavaliers coach Mark Miller, “but we all thought we deserved to be there in the end. This group of seniors has changed the course of this program forever. The future is bright over here.”
Contact David at dersoff@bellsouth.net