By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

HAMMOND – The Loyola girls soccer program has been here before, at Strawberry Stadium, playing in the state finals seven times.

Trouble is, so has Isadore Newman, their opponent tonight at 7:30 in the LHSAA’s Division IV championship game.

While the Lady Flyers are a fixture with state semifinal appearances in 12 of the last 13 seasons, they are making their first state finals appearance since 2022, when they scored a 4-1 victory over Archbishop Hannon. It was their second state crown under veteran coach Mark Matlock, to go with one in 2019-20.

The Lady Greenies have won 14 state titles, including the last two. They have played in the state finals in seven of the last nine years.

But while Newman might get the advantage in the history category, that’s pretty meaningless when kickoff occurs tonight. It’s a battle of the top two seeds, and if power points have meaning, then Loyola has the advantage.

The Lady Flyers are the No. 1 seed with a 22-4-3 record. The Lady Greenies are second seeded with their 16-3-2 mark.

The teams met in last year’s semifinals at Newman, which prevailed 1-0. Both teams have some mainstays back from that match.

The Lady Flyers’ leader is senior Ainsley Matlock, who has team-best totals of 24 goals and 30 assists.  Sophomores Carmen Gaitan (17 goals), Kennedy Kerr (12) and freshman Gabbye Brucia (12) are among the Lady Flyers’ other prime offensive weapons.

Junior keeper Peyton Lewis guards the net with a 0.718 goals per game average.

Newman won’t lack for fan support. Not only are the Lady Greenies an hour’s drive from home, but their unbeaten, top-seeded boys team plays in the 5 p.m. Division IV final.

The game can be seen on the NFHS Network and on the LHSAA Network.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com