St. Paul’s blanks Dutchtown to secure another Division I state soccer championship

HAMMOND – Revenge is sweet.

A year after losing a late lead in regulation and losing in overtime 3-2 to Dutchtown in the LHSAA Boys Division I state championship match, second seed was not going to let that happen.

Like last year, St. Paul’s built a 2-0 lead.

Unlike last year, the Wolves did not give it up.

Daniel Wayert drilled in the first goal off a long throw-in from Owen Spath which reached the box and the foot of Wayert to give the Wolves a 1-0 halftime lead.

It did not take long for the Wolves to get the game-clinching goal as Kilian Henderson scored from long distance, drilling in a shot from about 42 yards out in the 46th minute to secure the victory.

St. Paul’s (24-2-4) dominated time of possession, particularly in the second half. Dutchtown (13-4-6) played hard but could not generate many chances.

“We were not playing our best in the first half,” St. Paul’s coach Sean Moser said. “The initial feeling was more relief. This is a senior-laden team. We didn’t play a really clean first half but I thought in the second half, we dominated and got the second goal that we needed. I love this team.”

Spath was named the Most Valuable Player of the match.

“We definitely had revenge on our mind,” Spath said. “It’s the best feeling I’ve ever had in my life.”

It is the 11th state championship for St. Paul’s, third most in Louisiana boys prep soccer history.

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