Vandebilt hopes to overcome last season’s playoff demons

The Vandebilt Catholic boy’s soccer team remembers what happened this time a year ago.

The Terriers rolled through the regular season and entered the playoffs as the No. 1 seed – making them one of the favorites to win the state championship.

But Vandebilt’s championship ambitions were struck down in just the second round of the playoffs and the top-seeded Terriers lost to Loyola.

The Terriers are back in the same position this year and are currently No. 1 in the latest LSWA polls and they plan to avenge last season’s disappointments when the playoffs begin this weekend.

“We won’t be taking it easy on anyone this year,” said senior Lawrence Ward. “Last year, we thought we had it.”

Vandebilt is currently 17-4-2 on the season. Terriers coach Matt Kelso said he does not like to make predictions, but he is excited about the direction his team is headed.

“I will leave the ‘We’re the favorite,’ stuff to your media folks, but we’ve definitely got a goal,” Kelso said. “We want to remain focused and not take anything for granted. That’s been our motto all year. Last year, we fell short, because I think we got a little bit complacent, but hopefully this year, we will learn from that and be good.”

One of the strengths of the Terriers’ team has been their offensive balance.

Vandebilt has scored five or more goals in nine games this season.

Leading the offensive charge for the Terriers is T.J. Freeman.

Freeman has been a force throughout his entire career at Vandebilt and he recently broke the career record for goals scored in a career, surpassing the previous record of 128.

Freeman, who recorded two more goals on Friday against Morgan City, said the lessons the team learned last year will go a long way in this year’s playoff run.

“It’s definitely about revenge this year,” Freeman said. “It’s going to be something special for us. We’re definitely looking forward to it.”

The Terriers have also been just as sound on defense as senior goalie Michael Ortego has pitched 10 shutouts on the season, including four-straight.

Ortego agreed with his teammates and coach and said as soon as last season ended, the team set its sights on getting back to the top of the mountain.

“We’re going to go into every game and not take anything for granted,” Ortego said. “We were No. 1 last year and we thought we had a fast-track to the finals, but we didn’t even get past the Quarterfinals.”

Another factor playing into the Terriers hands is experience. With a predominantly upperclassman roster, Freeman said Vandebilt’s senior class wants to make its last go-around count.

“It’s all of our senior years, so we never know when our last game is,” Freeman said. “We’re going to embrace that and end this season strong. If we play with heart, I don’t know if we can be beaten.”

Vandebilt Catholic soccer player William Ellender makes a move on a Belle Chasse defender in the Terrier’s win on Friday. * Photo by CASEY GISCLAIR