By Teodoro Monthey, Frank Timphony, and Chase Huete
The Holy Cross Soccer team finished the regular season with a record of 16-3- 2. This was good enough to earn the Tigers a first seed in the LHSAA playoffs and first in the Louisiana High School Soccer Coaches Association poll in Division II. The Tigers are led by Director of Soccer Stuart Hayers, Coach Matt Millet, and Coach David Wright. This year’s captains are Ethan Jones, Blake Baldassaro, and Sebastian Aguilar; all have started games since their freshmen year. Holy Cross has returned many starters from last year and added two freshmen making an impact for the Tigers.
Holy Cross received a first round bye since they are the number 1 seed. In the second round, the Tigers will play Central Lafourche, who the Tigers already defeated earlier in the season. Holy Cross will likely host every game in the playoffs besides the championship. This year, Holy Cross has defeated all Division II opponents they have faced besides a tie with Lakeshore, but Lakeshore was eliminated by Destrehan in the first round. The team that eliminated the Tigers from the state playoffs two years ago was St. Thomas More, who the Tigers defeated 2-0 in a tournament this year; the Tigers could see St. Thomas Moore in the semi-final round later in the playoffs. Holy Cross has their eyes set on another championship run ending in Lafayette with a win.