By JIM INCAPRERA
Slidell sportswriter
SLIDELL — With only two remaining district games in the regular season, the PJP Lady Jags soccer team has compiled a 15-1-1 record. In the last week of play, PJP has convincingly defeated both district opponents St.?Thomas Aquinas and Northlake Christian.
The offense for PJP?has scored 87 goals, and the defense has recorded nine shutouts and only given up one goal in six other games.
In the home match versus STA, the Jags dominated beginning with the first minute of play with a goal by Jessica Mahoney assisted by Christina Cutura. By half time, Mahoney had her hat trick plus one and Christina Cutura added two goals to bring the score to 6-0. In the second half, the combination of Mahoney and Cutura combined for two additional scores with each assisting the other.
Both Mahoney and Cutura finished with hat tricks and an 8-0 win over STA.
After the match was completed, Jessica Mahoney received a soccer ball commemorating her accomplishment of scoring her 100th career goal as a PJP Jaguar.
Next up for the PJP girls soccer team, the squad travelled to NLC. The match began with the home team showing the aggression and attacking posture needed to win the match. However, the momentum changed, despite having several shots “ping” off the crossbar of the goal, the PJP offense continued to create quality runs.
Before the first half ended, both Mahoney and Cutura each recorded goals. In the second half, PJP increased its lead by three goals as Marlena Cutura successfully shot on frame past the NLC goal keeper and scored.
The PJP defense maintained its dominance over NLC as attempts fell wide or stopped by PJP’s keeper Alexis Molero. To finish off the scoring for the Jags, Sydney Gressaffa used a left-footed shot that cleared the corner of the goal post that provided a 4-0 district victory.
“Our team has worked hard and has maintained several goals. The first goal was to win our district. Next on our list was the big picture, the state title,”?Mahoney said. “I feel we definitely have the defense, midfield and forwards to make it all the way. The difference this year is that we have three good forwards and no one can double or triple team a forward like we saw in last year’s games.
“All three of us work together and understand what it takes to make good runs. No one is selfish regarding goals, we all assist and all three of us score. I feel like we earned this opportunity with lots of hard work – we have talented players on this team.”
With only two district games remaining, the Jags will focus on finishing out the regular season and preparing for the playoffs that begin the first week in February.