Junior attackman Bryan Kitto registered a game-high four points on a goal and three assists to lead unbeaten New Orleans Jesuit to a 7-5 victory over C.E. Byrd in a Louisiana High School Lacrosse League semifinal Saturday afternoon at Pan-American Stadium in New Orleans.
Senior attackman Louis LaCour added three points on two goals and an assist, and junior attackman Mac Bulloch scored twice to help the Blue Jays (12-0) win their 12th straight and advance to the state championship game for the second straight season.
New Orleans Jesuit will face St. Thomas More in the second-annual LHSLL state championship game Sunday morning at 11 a.m., at Pan-American Stadium. In the teams’ only regular-season meeting, the Blue Jays beat the Cougars, 13-11, on Feb. 20.
“It’s a bloodbath every time we play,” New Orleans Jesuit head coach Mike Brantley said. “It will be a fun game. I’m looking forward to playing them.”
On Saturday, senior middies Jack Zeringue and Michael Catalano each scored once to round out the offense for New Orleans Jesuit.
In the cage, junior goalie Stephen Baay saved nine shots.
C.E. Byrd (7-6) lost in the state semifinals for the second straight season, but the underdog Yellow Jackets didn’t go down without a fight.
New Orleans Jesuit led 1-0 at the end of the first quarter, 3-2 at halftime and 6-2 at the end of the third quarter. C.E. Byrd scored back-to-back goals to start the fourth to close within 6-4, but LaCour sealed it when he fired home his second with 2:24 remaining to restore the Blue Jays’ three-goal lead.
“We played really well,” Brantley said. “When you play Byrd, you’re going to have a physical game. It was hard fought on both sides. The key was defense, taking the right shot and not the first shot and transitions.”