Benjamin Franklin High School lost the Division-II Lousiana High School Athletic Association boy’s soccer championship in the most demoralizing way possible, an own goal. The Falcons flubbed a backwards pass in the final five minutes of the game that ultimately led to the game-winner.
It was heartbreaking.
Ben Franklin and Holy Cross School are located less than two miles from one another. They ended up meeting in the Louisiana soccer final on Friday night at Strawberry Stadium in Hammond.
They were tied at 1-1 through the first 85 minutes when things went horribly wrong.
Falcons midfielder Ronnie Ruiz played a pass back to his keeper with about 4:41 left in the match. Jacob Russell was unable to clear the ball. He completely whiffed on a full swing effort and the ball slowed rolled past him into his own net.
Ruiz should have put the pass away from the goal to either side. Russell should have put a touch on the bouncing pass before trying to boot it away. They both failed to do so and the goal cost them a title.
It was a truly unfortunate way for the boy’s soccer state championship to end.
Ben Franklin was understandably devastated. However, they continued to fight through the final whistle and almost knotted things back up at two a piece.
As depressing as the own goal was to watch unfold, it led to a phenomenal moment of sportsmanship and compassion after awards were given out after the game. Holy Cross players went over to their opponents and and congratulated them one by one on a remarkable soccer season.
Both coaches and all those in attendance at the game showed great compassion for how things went down, even in excitement over the state championship victory. Everybody feels for the goalkeeper in this situation and nobody wants to see it go down like that. Brutal. Just brutal.