The Willow School blitzes Bossier for Division II state boys soccer title

HAMMOND – The name has changed but the result is the same.

In 2021, Lusher Charter captured the LHSAA Boys Division II state soccer championship.

In 2023, The Willow School, formerly Lusher Charter, is the Division III state champion.

The No. 4 seed Lions scored three first half goals and went on to whip No. 2 Bossier 4-1 for the title at Strawberry Stadium.

The Willow School (17-4-5) took the lead almost immediately as junior William McDermott scored off a corner kick just three minutes in.

Sebastian Salm scored from long distance in the 20th minute to make it 2-0.

It looked like it might be a bit easy for The Willow School when the Lions came within a whisker of making it 3-0 but a shot went off the post.

The Bobcats (23-3-2) would respond.

Senior Jeison Sanchez was on the receiving end of a long ball in the box and he headed it in over keeper Booker Henry to make it 2-1.

Unfazed, the Lions got the two-goal lead back before halftime, recapturing the momentum which they would not relinquish as Alexander Lupin scored off a long diagonal pass on a play that was close to being offside to make it 3-1 at halftime.

The Lions were really not challenged much in the second half, though Bossier was awarded with a free kick but the ball was short and Willow School junior Alexander Lupin was able to outrun three defenders and passed the ball to a wide open senior MVP Tenchi Otten -Rashad for the dagger goal which took the life out of the Bearkats.

There were many delays which followed but the Lions had their third state title well in reach, having also won in 2014.

“We believed in his team all year long but it just took alot of growth out of adversity for his team to develop into the champions they finished the year as,” Willow School Ben Barcelona said.