October 4, 2017 at 2:13 a.m.
Quality shot ends JC season
Hamilton Heights scores sectional game winner with 2:51 to play
Quality shot ends JC season
Copyright 2017, The Commercial Review
All Rights Reserved
YORKTOWN — The Patriots had the edge in terms of quantity.
But in the waning minutes, with the season on the line, it was Hamilton Heights that delivered the highest-quality shot of the night.
Junior Katie Beery’s bomb from outside the 18-yard box on the left side broke a tie game with 2:51 left and proved to be enough to lift the Huskies to a 2-1 win over Jay County High School in the opening round of the Class 2A sectional tournament at Yorktown Sports Park.
“They made a heck of a shot to go up 2-1,” said JCHS coach Giles Laux, whose team finished at 10-4. “That was a heck of a shot.”
“They made plays when they had the opportunity. And that’s what makes the difference in the game. Hats off to ’em. I wish them the best.”
After a scoreless opening half, Hamilton Heights (9-7-2) finally broke through with about 25 minutes left on the clock only to have the Patriots pull even 15 minutes later. And that’s where the game stood, looking as if it was headed for overtime, especially after Jay County had a goal waived off when it was ruled that keeper Tessa Harr had possession of the ball before it was knocked away from her and into the net.
But that extra-soccer scenario changed when the Husky midfielders were able to get control and then send a ball deep toward the left corner of the field. That’s where Beery was able to track it down ahead of defender Sydnee Lee.
Before Lee could cut off her angle, Beery launched a high, arcing shot that sailed over the outstretched arms of goalie Shelby Caldwell and into the right corner for what would be the game-winning goal.
“A lot of the season, she’s been a role player, coming off the bench, playing five, 10, 15 minutes at a time,” said Hamilton Heights coach Travis Kauffman of the Huskies’ hero. “We love her playing that left midfield spot. She’s left-footed and she plays 110 percent all the time, full motor. So to get her out there at that point in the game when people might be a little gassed, that’s kind of what we were looking for, a long cross or a long shot like that.”
Laux indicated that he felt his team lost despite playing the better game. At least in terms of scoring opportunities, the Patriots had the advantage with 11 shots on goal compared to nine for Hamilton Heights. That include a 6-2 advantage in shots on goal in the first half, which saw JCHS suffer several near-misses.
Junior and leading goal scorer Kendra Muhlenkamp had her first chance less than four minutes into the game when she and Harr met at the ball inside the box, but Harr was able to deflect it away. About 19 minutes later, Muhlenkamp had a shot slam off the left post.
And at the 10-minute mark, senior Lucy Laux took passes from Eliza Bader and Muhlenkamp only to have her shot carom off the right post.
It was the Huskies who finally cashed in with 25:03 on the clock in the second half after when Beery got control of the ball after it ricocheted around inside the 18-yard box. She passed to senior Madi Hasler, who scored on a high shot to the right corner.
When Jay County pulled even with 10:06 to play, it was Laux and Muhlenkamp who teamed up. The former forced the ball through a pair of Husky defenders and got it to Muhlenkamp, who plowed past Kinsie Schneider and fired a shot to the left corner of the net for her 26th goal of the season.
“It was crashing — what we do well,” said Giles Laux. “And in that instance, it worked.”
The loss brought an end to a campaign that saw the the Patriots win their first seven games before suffering a 3-2 loss to Oak Hill. That opening stretch included victories over Heritage, Woodlan and South Adams for a third consecutive Allen County Athletic Conference title.
“It’s been a great year,” Laux said. “I feel this is probably the best team I’ve seen, in my opinion, girls soccer, at Jay County. Regardless of what happened tonight, the girls know we had a great season. They’re a great bunch.”
All Rights Reserved
YORKTOWN — The Patriots had the edge in terms of quantity.
But in the waning minutes, with the season on the line, it was Hamilton Heights that delivered the highest-quality shot of the night.
Junior Katie Beery’s bomb from outside the 18-yard box on the left side broke a tie game with 2:51 left and proved to be enough to lift the Huskies to a 2-1 win over Jay County High School in the opening round of the Class 2A sectional tournament at Yorktown Sports Park.
“They made a heck of a shot to go up 2-1,” said JCHS coach Giles Laux, whose team finished at 10-4. “That was a heck of a shot.”
“They made plays when they had the opportunity. And that’s what makes the difference in the game. Hats off to ’em. I wish them the best.”
After a scoreless opening half, Hamilton Heights (9-7-2) finally broke through with about 25 minutes left on the clock only to have the Patriots pull even 15 minutes later. And that’s where the game stood, looking as if it was headed for overtime, especially after Jay County had a goal waived off when it was ruled that keeper Tessa Harr had possession of the ball before it was knocked away from her and into the net.
But that extra-soccer scenario changed when the Husky midfielders were able to get control and then send a ball deep toward the left corner of the field. That’s where Beery was able to track it down ahead of defender Sydnee Lee.
Before Lee could cut off her angle, Beery launched a high, arcing shot that sailed over the outstretched arms of goalie Shelby Caldwell and into the right corner for what would be the game-winning goal.
“A lot of the season, she’s been a role player, coming off the bench, playing five, 10, 15 minutes at a time,” said Hamilton Heights coach Travis Kauffman of the Huskies’ hero. “We love her playing that left midfield spot. She’s left-footed and she plays 110 percent all the time, full motor. So to get her out there at that point in the game when people might be a little gassed, that’s kind of what we were looking for, a long cross or a long shot like that.”
Laux indicated that he felt his team lost despite playing the better game. At least in terms of scoring opportunities, the Patriots had the advantage with 11 shots on goal compared to nine for Hamilton Heights. That include a 6-2 advantage in shots on goal in the first half, which saw JCHS suffer several near-misses.
Junior and leading goal scorer Kendra Muhlenkamp had her first chance less than four minutes into the game when she and Harr met at the ball inside the box, but Harr was able to deflect it away. About 19 minutes later, Muhlenkamp had a shot slam off the left post.
And at the 10-minute mark, senior Lucy Laux took passes from Eliza Bader and Muhlenkamp only to have her shot carom off the right post.
It was the Huskies who finally cashed in with 25:03 on the clock in the second half after when Beery got control of the ball after it ricocheted around inside the 18-yard box. She passed to senior Madi Hasler, who scored on a high shot to the right corner.
When Jay County pulled even with 10:06 to play, it was Laux and Muhlenkamp who teamed up. The former forced the ball through a pair of Husky defenders and got it to Muhlenkamp, who plowed past Kinsie Schneider and fired a shot to the left corner of the net for her 26th goal of the season.
“It was crashing — what we do well,” said Giles Laux. “And in that instance, it worked.”
The loss brought an end to a campaign that saw the the Patriots win their first seven games before suffering a 3-2 loss to Oak Hill. That opening stretch included victories over Heritage, Woodlan and South Adams for a third consecutive Allen County Athletic Conference title.
“It’s been a great year,” Laux said. “I feel this is probably the best team I’ve seen, in my opinion, girls soccer, at Jay County. Regardless of what happened tonight, the girls know we had a great season. They’re a great bunch.”
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