MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / Febuary 24, 1999

BOUTTE – The Hahnville defense pitched its third straight shutout and the Tigers broke their quarterfinals jinx with a 5-0 victory over Slidell Saturday afternoon.

Hahnville (27-4-2) ad-vanced to the semifinals for the first time after three quarterfinal appearances. The Tigers played at nemisis Acadiana inthe semifinals last night. Acadiana, coming off a 6-1 victory over BatonRouge Central Saturday, had knocked the Tigers out of the playoffs each of the last two years.

Slidell, the District 7-5A runners-up, finished its season at 12-5-2.

Hahnville controlled the tempo of the game throughout, getting its first opportunity to get on the scoreboard four minutes into the contest.

Brandon Kelly moved down the left sideline and crossed a pass to John Keller whose kick sailed high. A minute later, the Tigers were awarded afree kick with Joseph Griffin’s try sailing over the net.

The Tigers were awarded another free kick less than a minute later. Thistime, Griffin sent his free kick from near midfield across to Travis Webre on the right wing. Webre angled his shot past Slidell goalie Jason Schex-naydre into the top left corner of the net, giving Hahnville a 1-0 lead five minutes into the contest.

Slidell had an opportunity to tie the score on its next possession as Casey Lee moved in and angled a shot to the right corner of the net. Hahnvillegoalie Luke Ledet dove to that side and made a diving, juggling catch to keep Hahnville in the lead.

Hahnville took advantage of another Slidell foul at the 19-minute mark as Griffin’s free kick sailed into the right corner of the net, making it 2-0.

Two minutes later, Griffin took another free kick but had it sail wide right. Stevie Sirmon then tried a header that was pushed away bySchexnaydre. Schexnaydre made grabs of shots by Mark Griffin, Sirmon andJoe Griffin over the next 10 minutes to keep Slidell in the game.

Hahnville got another goal in the final minute of the half as Tim Sirmon moved in front and angled a shot past Schexnaydre into the left corner of the net, making it 3-0.

Slidell had a chance to cut into the lead early in the second half as Nick Baggetta passed ahead to Lee. Lee moved in but had his shot sail high andwide left.

Five minutes later, Tim Sirmon sent a pass ahead to Kelly. Kelly made afake to get by Schexnaydre and sent the ball into the unguarded net to make it 4-0 at the seven-minute mark.

At the 11-minute mark, Baggetta sent a free kick to Blaine Bech. Bechangled a shot to the right corner with Ledet making a diving grab. Ledetthen made a grab of Lee’s shot in front of the net.

Hahnville would get its final goal five minutes later as Mark Griffin was tripped up in the box and the Tigers awarded a penalty kick. Joseph Griffintook the kick and knocked it past Schexnaydre into the right corner of the net.

Ledet would come through again at the 21-minute mark, making a leaping catch of a shot by Bech. Baggetta then sent a free kick to Lee whose quickkick was grabbed by Ledet.

Play would get rougher as the second half went on. Five yellow cards wereissued and Slidell’s Bech, Lee and Robert Montgomery were issued red cards and ejected.

Ledet preserved the shutout by blocking a shot by Joseph Rayhke at the 39-minute mark. The Tigers are the only team not to allow a goal in theplayoffs.

“The defense did real well and the goalie did real well,” Hahnville coach Rafael de Vega said. “They are keeping us in the game and putting us in anopportunity to put points on the board.”

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