After a flurry of winter storms put the prep soccer season on ice, the Falcons knew that they would need to bring their A game if they wanted to get a win over District 5-IV rival Catholic High (5-4-5) on the final day of the regular season. 

Up stepped senior forward Tripp Monica, scoring twice in the first half and once more in the second to clinch the 3-1 win over CHS and move ESA to 8-2-6 on the season. Catholic High’s lone goal of the night came in the 58th minute, when Khylon Edwards successfully converted a penalty kick to get the Panthers on the scoreboard.

“Its a great way to end the regular season,” said Monica of his senior-night hattrick. “We have a lot of young players on the team, so expectations lower, but the will to succeed is higher. With that being said, we’re going to try and fight in every game and get a result.”

The Falcons graduated over ten seniors from last season’s team that made an appearance in the LHSAA Division IV state championship game, leaving the team to not only replace the talent lost, but also the leadership qualities. 

This year, ESA’s five seniors have done well to keep standards high, both on and off the field. For Monica, the lessons he learned last season have helped him battle back during the down periods this year.   

“I was good friends with all of the leaders on the team last year and being around them kind of taught me how to be a leader myself,” he explained. “My love for the game helps me to be a leader to these kids. You just want to show grit, motivation for the sport and fight for one another each game.”

Last season, the No. 2 seeded Falcons were upset 3-1 by No. 8 seed Episcopal of Baton Rouge in the D4 final. While Monica says that this season is still part of the team’s rebuilding process, he believes that ESA can still make a return to the championship game in Hammond, if they do what they need to in the playoffs.   

“We’re rebuilding, but the motivation is always there to try to get as far as we can every single year. We’re going to fight for each other and, if we’re able to do that, we’ll be able to get to state,” Monica said. 

The Lady Falcons also notched a win on Monday, defeating Catholic High 1-0 to clinch a District 5-IV championship behind a goal from freshman Lauren Conroy.

The win moved ESA to 8-1-8 on the season. The Lady Falcons are now undefeated in their last six games, a marked improvement from earlier in the season.

CHS moved to 12-1-8 with the loss. 

Playoff brackets for both boys and girls teams are scheduled to be released on Tuesday, January 28 by the LHSAA.