Photo by LHSAA
By Billy Braunig
This year, The Willow School boys’ soccer team capped off another amazing season with a record of 23-0-4. Not only did they take home their third title in four years, but they also made history by going undefeated for the first time in school history.
“We have truly built this program into something special,” Coach Barcelona said during a post-championship press conference to WGNO, “and the weight of having an undefeated season, even if people think it’s nothing, is really something.”
The Lions finished out the season with a 2-0 victory over University Lab (15-4-5) in the Louisiana boys’ DIII state championship. And to say the game was a thriller is an understatement! University Lab came out of the gate hot, putting pressure on goalkeeper Booker Henry. The game stayed 0-0 until the 70th minute, when senior striker Ellett-Clum Stockton scored the first goal with a beautiful pass from fellow senior, right wing Amos Liles.
And from then on, the Lions never let off the gas, taking complete control of the game. In the final minutes of the game, senior center mid Gabe Pizzolato scored the Lions’ second goal to seal the game.
”I believe the defense is a very integral part of the team. Only letting up two goals in all of 2024 is something to be proud of. I am especially thankful to my senior teammates who showed me the way, and I will be sorry to see them go,” said sophomore captain Oliver Morse.
“It was a really close game. I was really nervous until Ellett scored the first goal,” said junior right back Troy McGowan, “and all that fear went away, and after that we were just having fun.”
The Lions had a 97-12 goals scored to goals let up ratio, which shined brightly on their season.
“Thank you to all the seniors who helped make my soccer career better,” junior striker Charlie Curran said, “and I’m glad I got to have the K-12 experience with them.”
