Morgan City seniors Austin Stroud and Oscar Hinojosa remember the embarrassment they felt when they walked off Clark Field as freshmen in 2009 following a 9-1 drubbing at the hands of Teurlings Catholic, who went on to win the Division II boys’ state soccer title.

Three years later, the duo have the opportunity to redeem themselves when they face the No. 5-ranked Teurlings Catholic Rebels on Thursday at 6 p.m. in the second round of the Division II state soccer playoffs.

“We got our … ” Stroud said, recalling the 2009 loss before stopping mid-sentence and smiling. “Well, yeah. It was bad. It was bad.”

He said in that 2009 matchup, the Tigers were intimidated by the Rebels gaudy stats.

Earlier this year, the Tigers and Rebels played in the Beau Chene tournament and the results were much different as the Tigers fell in a closer game, 2-1.

“I think we weren’t where we are now,” Stroud said. “We were missing two or three guys that really helped us (later on in the season). I think going there now, I think we have a better chance. I think we can win.”

Morgan City coach Jorge Hernandez said the Teurlings squad, which has made playoff runs annually, is a good one similar to the Vandebilt Catholic squad the Tigers split with during their two district games this season.

“If we come out and play like we did that day (against South Terrebonne), we might do something good,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez said the key to his squad’s success would be to play as a team, something the squad has done well later this season.

Defensively, Stroud said the squad is better than they were during that earlier season matchup.

“We’re two, three hundred percent better now than we were back then. I don’t think they can score on us. It’s just the fact that we need to score on them and if we don’t, it’s going to put more pressure on our defense.”

Fellow senior and goalie Taylor Mayon also said he is confident in the defense.

Teurlings coach Jonathan Brunet said his squad has an “extremely difficult task” in facing Morgan City.

“We were very impressed with their team and the way they played,” Brunet said of the early season matchup. “We know they have some outstanding players on their team that are dangerous. I’m sure they’re different now and we’re different now. They have some very good players that can hurt you on any given day of the week. We know what kind of threat they’re going to send us tomorrow for sure.”

Brunet said he expects a good matchup.

“It should be an excellent game,” he said. “You probably can’t ask for a better second-round game than this.”