MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / Febuary 22, 1999

HAHNVILLE – Soccer games don’t come much tighter than this.

Hahnville’s Travis Webre knocked in a deflection with less than two minutes remaining in the contest to give the Tigers a 1-0 victory over Northshore in the Division I regional playoffs Wednesday night.

Hahnville (26-4-2) advances to the quarterfinals where they will play Slidell. Slidell (13-4-4) defeated Warren Easton, 3-2, Wednesday.Northshore finished its season at 7-8-4.

The game appeared to be heading into overtime when the Tigers made a late charge. Griffin took a pass from Brandon Kelly and moved to the leftside of the net where his shot went through the crease past Northshore goalie Derek Anderson. Webre took the deflection on the right side andknocked it into the open net, giving the Tigers the lead at the 38:20 minute mark of the half.

Northshore would not seriously threaten in the final minute with Hahnville getting one more chance as Griffin’s long shot was grabbed by Anderson on a bounce.

“It was every bit a great game as we expected,” Hahnville coach Rafael de Vega said. “Northshore played a great game and it was everything weexpected it to be. It was as close a game as you can get it.”After an evenly played first half, Northshore dominated the first 20 minutes of the second half but could not get the ball into the net. NicViguerie had the first opportunity for the Panthers as his shot was deflected away by Hahnville goalie Luke Ledet. Ledet then grabbedViguerie’s ensuing corner kick at the five-minute mark.

Hahnville had the next opportunity as Joseph Griffin’s free kick sailed just left of the goal nine minutes into the half. Northshore then tookpossession with Brad Wagner taking a pass in front and sending a header over the net.

Ledet then came away with one of the key plays of the game as Eric Burka took a pass in front of the net and fired a shot from point-blank range to the right corner. Ledet dove to his right and made a one-handed grab at the13-minute mark. Viguerie then centered a corner kick to Wagner whoseheader went over the net.

Five minutes later, it was Corey Serpas sending a shot in front over the net. Ledet then leapt to grab Tommy Futral’s header off a corner kick byViguerie.

After Hahnville took possession, Joseph Griffin moved in on a free kick but had his shot sail left. Three minutes later, Mark Griffin took a shot justout of the box that sailed high. At the 28-minute mark, Griffin moved in onthe net but had his shot from up front sail wide right. Ander-son thengrabbed shots by Griffin at the 33 and 35-minute marks.

Both teams had opportunities in the first half to get on the board. In theopening minutes, Mark Griffin passed to Kelly who found Jason Davis in front. Anderson deflected Davis’ shot and then dove on it before he couldget the rebound. Three minutes later, Mark Griffin’s shot from way outjust missed the left side of the net. Webre then took a corner kick and hadhis header hit the top of the cross bar.

Wagner took a turnover in the Hahnville zone and put a shot on goal that was blocked by Ledet. Four minutes later, Webre took a shot in front thatsailed over the net.

At the 21-minute mark, Wagner headed Viguerie’s corner kick over the net.

Stevie Sirmon moved in at the 35-minute mark, juked out a defender and put a shot on up front that was grabbed by Anderson.

“We missed some shots at the beginning and sometimes those shots come back to hurt you,” de Vega said. “But we went on and we had ourconfidence up. Gratefully we were on top at the end.”

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