February 5, 2005

Lady Cats batter Bruins, advance

By Eric LeBlanc
Sports Editor
(Photo by ERIC LEBLANC)

To sum up the Destrehan Lady Cats' Thursday night first-round playoff victory over Bonnabel, only one statistic needs to be presented. The Lady Cats had 21 shots on goal. The Lady Bruins had none. Destrehan cruised to an easy 5-0 victory with the help of three goals from Valerie Delatte and great team defensive play all around.

The other goals were scored by Leighann Delatte and Sarah Matthews, while Becca Murray and Michelle Delatte picked up assists.

The Destrehan defense was dominant throughout the game, limiting Bonnabel to the first 30 to 40 feet of Lady Cat territory. The majority of the game was played deep in Bonnabel territory, and the beginning of the game was no different. Leighann and Valerie Delatte began the game with a barrage of shots on goal, each putting up three in the opening minutes. Then Valerie found an opportunity and put in the first goal of the night. Kala Keller would get the next shot on goal and was followed by Leighann, who followed that shot with her goal of the night assisted by Murray. The Lady Cats would take three shots on goal the rest of the half, two by Valerie Delatte and one by Sarah Matthews, before going into halftime with a 2-0 lead.

The score would remain the same several minutes into the second half. Taryn Ramsey put up two shots on goal to lead off and was followed by Valerie Delatte and Keller. Then Valerie pounded her second goal in from 30 yards out, over the goalie's reach. She followed with another shot on goal and then put the Lady Cats ahead 4-0 with another goal from inside the box. Katie Matthews then put up a shot on goal, followed by Ramsey. But it was Sarah Matthews, assisted by Michelle Delatte who got in the last goal from long distance and sealed the final score at 5-0.

With the victory, the Lady Cats improve their overall record to 11-3 and advance to the regional round of the state playoffs where they will take on the winner of the Northshore and Mt. Carmel matchup.

Eric LeBlanc can be reached at EricL@heraldguide.com or at (985) 758-2795, ext. 219.