Lady Terriers end ‘perfect’ run with state title

Championships are difficult to attain. Perfection is virtually impossible.

But that didn’t prevent the Vandebilt Catholic girls’ soccer team from achieving both Friday in a 3-0 victory over St. Michael at East Ascension High School’s Spartan Stadium in Gonzales.

Not only did the Lady Terriers shut out their opposition for a 12th consecutive game, but they also captured the Division II state title – the school’s first in girls’ soccer.

“It feels really good to bring one back,” said Vandebilt coach Philip Amedee. “I’ve taken a little bit of a ribbing from (Vandebilt boys’ coach) Doug (Hamilton) about finally bringing a ring back. But this is a class that’s deserving. They’ve worked hard, and the outcome was evident. They were not going to be denied.”

Especially on defense.

The Lady Terriers (21-7) held St. Michael (14-11-3) to just two shots on goal.

“We talk about goals, goals, goals, but defensively, we come out and shut down teams time and time again,” Amedee added. “It all comes down to our mentality. If you notice, everybody plays defense. These girls play for each other.”

Vandebilt controlled the tempo from the game’s onset, but didn’t find the back of the net until the 38th minute when Kayla Chatman took a Lindsay Warren pass and fired it past St. Michael netminder Liz Buss.

“Scoring at the end of the first half was critical,” Amedee said. “We had a couple of quality chances and we didn’t finish, but that goal really set the tone for the second half.”

The Lady Terriers collected their second goal when Alyssa Voisin put in her own rebound in the 56th minute.

Late in the game, Kacey Amedee lobbed a shot from the left sideline that found its way into the upper left-hand corner of the goal, giving Vandebilt a comfortable lead it wouldn’t relinquish.

The Lady Terriers peppered Buss with 28 shots throughout the game.

Nonetheless, the game wasn’t ultimately decided by the nets.

“I said before the game that it would be decided in the midfield,” said St. Michael coach Anthony Neeson. “It was. (Vandebilt) showed a lot of heart in the midfield and won a lot of the battles.”

And as a result, the Lady Terriers made school history.

“It’s indescribable,” said senior stopper Alana DeHart. “It’s the best feeling I’ve ever felt. I think St. Michael is a good team, but the better team won tonight. We did a good job of shutting them down and it showed in the score.”

VANDY BOYS LOSE IN FINAL

It took 80 minutes of regulation, two 10-minute overtime sessions and two five-minute golden goal periods to finally break a 1-1 tie between Vandebilt Catholic and Teurlings in Saturday’s Division II boys’ state soccer championship.

In the end, the Rebels were able to thwart the Terriers run at capturing a fifth-consecutive Division II soccer title (and eighth overall) by winning the shootout, 4-2.

Bruno Doria scored Vandebilt’s goal in regulation. The Terriers finish their 2007-08 campaign at 19-7-4 overall.

Photo by CHRIS SCARNATI

• Tri-Parish Times The Vandebilt Catholic girls’ soccer squad shows off the Division II state championship trophy – its first in school history.