Jay survives SA rally

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The Starfires didn’t get many chances, but in the waning moments when opportunities arose they were able to capitalize.

The Patriots bounced back to prevent any further damage.

Jay County High School’s boys soccer team fought off two late goals Tuesday to hang on for a 3-2 win against the South Adams Starfires.

“It wasn’t about anyone (in particular) that was on the field,” JCHS coach Brad Horn said of the letdown late in the second half. “As a group everyone kind of collapsed. I don’t know if they just had it in the bag … fell apart, but we were able to regain it and come back.”

South Adams (0-10-2, 0-3 Allen County Athletic Conference) hasn’t scored a goal in two weeks, and coach Luke McClung was relieved to see his team break that slump.

“Makes me feel good that the kids got rewarded for not quitting,” said McClung, a Jay County graduate. “My assistant coach and I have talked all season long, no matter what they don’t quit, and it was nice to see them get rewarded for that with a couple goals.”

Trailing Jay County (4-6-3, 2-1 ACAC) by a 3-0 margin late in the second half, Victor Vasquez put South Adams on the board by burying a shot inside the 10-yard box. The Vasquez goal with 12:40 to play beat backup goalkeeper Griffin Mann, who replaced Seth Fugiett to have him play forward.

Not even four minutes later, sophomore Tyler Yoder notched his first career goal on another loose ball in the box. Mann wasn’t able to get his hands on a free kick and it found Yoder’s foot in the middle of the box. He put a right-footed shot into the goal, cutting the Starfires’ deficit to 3-2.

“I had to sub him in at center (midfield) and he had never played there before,” McClung said. “He was where he was supposed to be. Give him credit for it. It was awesome.”

Yoder’s goal with 8:53 left ignited the Starfires, as the entire squad was happy for their underclassmen.

“Tyler is a crowd and a player favorite,” McClung added. “At the home games the girls go crazy every time he gets on the field. Everyone loves Tyler. It was exciting to see him get a goal.”

But as time ticked away the Starfires weren’t able to net the equalizer.

Jay County, which finishes its regular season at home Thursday against Liberty Christian and Saturday against Oak Hill, had a 1-0 lead at half despite not playing particularly well. It controlled possession for a majority of the opening 40 minutes, but wasn’t able to get many chances on goal.

With 2:52 remaining before intermission, Matthew Paquette, a defenseman, kicked in a free ball on a corner kick to put the Patriots on the board.

“He is one that wants to be wherever the action is,” Horn said. “Love the kid to death. Great player. Such a hard player.

“The first 30 minutes of the game was not good. We did not play well. We weren’t even getting opportunities. Later on in the half we started getting opportunities. I was proud of that … That first half I was not impressed. I was not happy with what we were doing.”

But barely 11 minutes into the second half the Jay County lead ballooned to 3-0, as Derrian Riojas and Korbin Auker both notched goals.

Angel Perez had a free kick at the top of the 18-yard box, and SAHS senior goalkeeper Lars In’t Groen knocked away his shot but wasn’t able to corral it cleanly.

Riojas was there for the rebound and kicked home the Patriots’ second goal just 8:12 out of intermission.

“That is what what they’ve got to do,” Horn said of what he calls “trash goals,” second- and third-chances off an initial shot.

Just 3:22 later, Auker scored on a penalty kick after a hand ball in the penalty area.