Jay loses 1st

The visiting Patriots scored twice. The host Patriots finished with just two shots on goal.

Overall control was the story of the Jay County High School girls soccer team's season opener Thursday as Heritage used its possession game for a 2-0 victory.

"The play of our center defenders and our wing defenders I think really set the tone of this game," said Heritage coach Tom Utnage, whose team lost its opener Tuesday to Elmhurst. "We've been stressing our first touch for about the last week."

Jay County pushed the ball to its offensive end of the field for the first several minutes of the game, but spent much of the remainder of the first half trying to keep the ball out of its defensive end.

Heritage finally broke through when it pushed the ball up the right side with just over seven minutes remaining before halftime. The JCHS defense and goalie Mollie May turned away the visitors' first shot, but Theresa Berning put in a second chance off an assist from senior teammate Kendra Goranson.

"The first goal is always important, especially with an away game," said Utnage. "Just to get that first goal gets their spirits up ... knowing they can score. That's an important thing."

Shanen Martin had a chance to push the advantage to 2-0, but sent her shot too high and over the crossbar when she had a one-on-one opportunity against May with 40 seconds left before halftime.

Jay County coach Abby Champ said she felt her team was on its heels a bit in the first half and that first-game jitters probably were a factor.

"We came out a little sluggish in the first half," Champ said. "That's to be expected when you have a younger team.

"In the second half we were a totally different team. I think that showed because we controlled the ball on our side."

One of Jay County's best scoring chances came 12 minutes into that second half when Tiffany Huelskamp sent the ball through on the right side to Sammi Compton. The freshman fired a shot only to have goalie Brittany Franke make a diving save.

Eight minutes later Heritage grabbed its two goal lead when Rachel Gallmeyer stepped in front of a May goal kick. She took one dribble and then shot past May for the score with 20:27 remaining.

"We need to make sure that the ball never bounces," said Champ of her team's need to win the ball, especially off of goal kicks and throw-ins. "It's always a trap or a stop or a one-touch pass. We're waiting for the ball to come to us (right now)."

Jay County's other best scoring opportunity in the second half came less than three minutes later, also on a push up the right side. LeAnn Horn attacked the goal with a sliding shot, but was met with a sliding save from Franke.

The two-goal margin was enough to secure the win for Heritage, which had not topped JCHS since 2004. The visitors recorded 18 shots on goal.

"It doesn't matter what the score is," said Utnage, "the biggest thing is I want to see us playing better soccer. And that's what I'm most happy about."

Champ saw plenty of positives with her team, including the play of May and first-year junior defender Brittany Manor.

"(May) does not wait for the ball," said Champ. "She attacks it.

"She saved a lot of goals.

"For her first game, Brittany Manor had the foot that we needed. She had a great game."[[In-content Ad]]