Soccer Playoffs: St. Paul’s edges Brother Martin, 1-0, on Colin Moser’s penalty kick

GOAL – 14' for STP. Colin Moser buries the penalty following a Crusader handball. 1-0 STP. pic.twitter.com/g8YIJwrMyC

— CCS Prep Coverage (@CCSprep) February 8, 2018

COVINGTON, La. – There is little question where the state’s best boys soccer team is located. Their underdog opponents know it well.

Yet two regular season beatings by a combined score of 7-0 did not deter No. 16 seed Brother Martin from giving their best shot Wednesday night at Hunter Stadium.

St. Paul’s battled to a regional round win in the regional round of the LHSAA Division I soccer playoffs, 1-0, thanks to Colin Moser’s penalty kick goal in the 13th minute. The match aired live on CrescentCitySports.com.

A handball by the Crusaders led to Moser’s 17th goal of the season, and it was expected to be just the opening salvo in another rout for the top-seeded Wolves. However, Brother Martin stood tall defensively under constant pressure. Goal keeper Michael Barkemeyer and a determined Crusaders backline led by Zachary Stolberg in central defense kept the match tight.

Winners of 18 straight playoff games, the four-time defending state champion Wolves hit the woodwork twice in the first half after taking the lead. Despite strong play in attack by Moser, top scorer Justin Savoie and midfielder Conner Walmsley, the second goal would never come.

Brother Martin (15-7-6) gained confidence as the match progressed, seeing more of the ball in the second half. Their best chance to equalize came in the 61st minute when striker Blake Robbins dragged a shot just wide of the left post.

CHANCE to level for the Crusaders – Blake Robbins pulls his shot off the turf just wide of the post. STP 1 BM 0. pic.twitter.com/6l21xjf0DA

— CCS Prep Coverage (@CCSprep) February 8, 2018

Otherwise, a pair of senior captains in defense – keeper Kyle Schmitt and defender Mason Robicheaux – led the way to another clean sheet for St Paul’s. This season, the Wolves have allowed only two goals.

Continuing their quest to reach the state finals for the eighth straight year, St. Paul’s (23-2) moves on to the quarterfinals next week to face the winner of No. 9 Dutchtown at No. 8 Northshore.

Watch the complete match replay here: