Destrehan and Hahnville soccer teams prepare for the games ahead
Hahnville High Girls Soccer
The Hahnville High School Lady Tigers soccer team is looking for a repeat season from last year, and they’re turning to a few new faces who can perform winning plays and excellent team effort.
The girls opened their season with a scrimmage against Fountainbleau on Nov. 5 and will face off in a second scrimmage at St. Joseph’s on Friday, Nov. 7 at J.B. Martin Middle School.
And with a 22-game schedule ahead of them, including the Dutchtown Jamboree and 10 district matches, the 2008 season is an important one.
“Last year’s team underachieved in the sense that we did not meet the expectations we set for ourselves,” said girls soccer coach Shaun Crochet.
“We were competitive in a very tough district, but struggled throughout the season to find our identity as an offense.”
Crochet says that his team’s No. 1 goals this year are to improve their standing in the district from last year, remain competitive in each game and return to being a playoff-caliber team.
“We have a great number of returning and first time starters with 3 or 4 years of experience,” he said.
“The fact that our core group of players has been playing together for a considerable amount of time should benefit us.”
Crochet points out that his team needs to improve on their mental and physical toughness and their ability to control the game consistently, but adds that his team’s greatest talent is their ability to strive under pressure, perseverance and their confidence in the team concept.
HHS’ biggest competitors this season include the entire district – Destrehan, Dutchtown, East Ascension and St. Amant.
Destrehan High Boys Soccer
The Destrehan boys soccer team opens their season with a scrimmage on Nov. 10 with West Jefferson and another on Nov. 12 against Rummel.
The boys will play an 18-game schedule this year with 10 district games against teams like Hahnville, Dutchtown, St. Amant and East Ascension.
New coach Brad Landeche says that the team’s first goal this year is to make the playoffs and to make a good run at the title.
“Last year Destrehan had a good season,” he said. “They made it to the second round of the playoffs and lost to Central Catholic of Baton Rouge in a hard-fought game.”
Landeche points out that key players to watch out for this year include Jonathan Cabrera and Andrew Cocker.
“They are returning starters from last year that we expect great things from,” he said. “They have a great knowledge of the game and understand the system of play used at Destrehan.”
This year’s team’s No. 1 goals are to work on controlling and possessing the ball, making good judgement, and making quality passes and runs to the goal.
“Our team’s greatest talent is team chemistry and discipline,” said Landeche. “Our players played together last year and know the strengths and weaknesses of each others game.”
Landeche says that his team’s biggest competitor this season is Hahnville.
“Anytime Destrehan and Hahnville meet up in any competition will be fierce,” he said. “And we also have other big names on our schedule like Rummel and anyone in district.”
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