After a slow start to the season, Destrehan began to find itself.
The Ladycats recently put together a five-match winning streak and now stand at 6-9-1 this season against a difficult slate of competition. DHS began the season 0-5 before finding its footing, starting with a 2-0 win over Country Day in late November.
“We had some tough tests,” said Destrehan head coach Jade Gallaher, who is in her third season guiding the program. “I think we’ve played well throughout. There were a couple of times I thought we could do better, but we’re meshing well now. The chemistry is flowing and we’re better as a team this year. We have a lot of goals in front of us.”
The team’s win streak saw DHS score victories over Ellender, 7-0, Ponchatoula, 2-1, Covenant Christian, 3-2, Chapelle, 3-2 and McGehee, 2-1.
Sophomore Chloe Burford and seniors Tatiana Brown and Brooke Ledet are three players who have been driving factors for the Ladycats this season.
“The biggest thing is leadership. They have that competitive drive,” said Gallaher. “They constantly want to compete, no matter who the opponent is or what the scoreboard says.”
Gallaher added that it’s been a total team-wide effort that’s gotten Destrehan this far.
And it’s also been a very strong defensive effort throughout the entire season. Destrehan hasn’t allowed more than four goals in a game all season – opponents hitting that mark just twice – and DHS has shut out three opponents. Ten times DHS has allowed two goals or less.
“It’s a crucial part of what we do,” Gallaher said. “We’re able to rely on that, we know we can count on it.”
Juniors Darlene Zuniga and Grace Garcia and sophomore Valeria Gonzalez have formed a wall on the backline.
Gallaher said Zuniga is like having another coach on the field.
“She helps direct things and gets everyone where they need to be,” said Gallaher.
Freshman goalkeeper Isabel Fontaine has also made an impact in her first season, including a 15-save outing against University Lab last Thursday.
“Take it from someone who was a goalkeeper herself,” said Gallaher, who played for Nicholls State after a standout career in goal for Northshore, “it’s highly impressive for a freshman to come in and start for the varsity. She’s played really well.”
