St. Louis Catholic Wins 14th Soccer State Championship
After nine years of waiting, St. Louis Catholic's boys soccer team claimed their 14th state championship with a 1-0 victory over defending champions University Lab. Junior Will Flavin scored the winning goal and earned most outstanding player honors in the dramatic Thursday night showdown.
The St. Louis Catholic Saints proved that patience and persistence pay off when they captured their first state championship since 2017 with a stunning 1-0 upset over top-ranked University Lab.
Junior forward Will Flavin became the hero of the night at Southeastern University's Strawberry Stadium in Hammond. In the 34th minute, teammate Drake Hinton delivered a perfect corner kick to the far side of the goal, and Flavin headed it past the Cubs' keeper for what would be the game's only score.
The victory was especially sweet for the third-ranked Saints, who dethroned the defending Division III state champions. With this win, St. Louis Catholic now ties Jesuit for the most state championships in Louisiana history with 14 titles each.
The Saints defense played their best game of the season, holding off wave after wave of attacks from University Lab. The Cubs dominated possession in the first half and earned six corner kicks, but St. Louis cleared every single one.
Most impressively, the Saints shut down University Lab's top scorer, Sie Parker, who had netted 29 goals during the season. Parker couldn't find a single solid scoring opportunity all night.
The Bright Side
The final moments tested every Saints fan's nerves. In stoppage time, University Lab had two corner kick chances to tie the game and force overtime. But the St. Louis defense stood strong, clearing both attempts and securing the championship trophy.
For Will Flavin, being named most outstanding player capped an unforgettable night. His perfectly timed header not only won the game but also ended a nine-year championship drought for his school.
The Saints finished their championship season with a 20-5 record, proving that the third seed can absolutely win it all. Meanwhile, Jesuit will attempt to break the tie for most championships when they face Brother Martin in the Division I finals on Saturday.
After nearly a decade of close calls and tough losses, the St. Louis Catholic community finally has reason to celebrate again.
Based on reporting by Google News - Championship Win
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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