Four in a row

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Gavin Muhlenkamp had another multi-goal game.

The defense pitched its third shutout of the season.

The Patriot streak continues.

Jay County High School’s boys soccer team dominated every inch of the field Tuesday in a 5-0 victory against the Richmond Red Devils.

“If you just come out and see us play you’ll notice everyone is working together,” said JCHS coach Brad Horn. “In this game, I mean, this is the best I’ve seen as well, especially from the get-go everyone was working together.”

It marked the fourth consecutive victory for Jay County (6-2), which is off to the team’s best start in a decade. The last time the Patriots had six wins through the first eight games was 2009, Horn’s senior year.

Richmond, meanwhile, remained winless on the season as it fell to 0-8. It was the sixth time this year the Red Devils had been shut out. They have been outscored 57-4 and managed just one goal their last five games.

Jay County, which hosts Bellmont at 5 p.m. Thursday, started scoring early Tuesday against Richmond.

Cristian Marentes had the ball deep in the right corner of the pitch and sent a left-footed pass toward the center. Muhlenkamp was there to one-time it past Richmond keeper Ross Peacock into the left side of the net in the fifth minute for his team-leading sixth goal of the season.

Muhlenkamp, sophomore, added his second goal of the game slightly more than four minutes later as he beat a Red Devil defender to a Brayden Sprunger through pass. Muhelnkamp buried his seventh goal to the right side of the twine.

After going the first five games of the season without a goal, Muhlenkamp has done all his damage in the last three contests.

A mere 3:20 after Muhlenkamp’s second goal, Hunter Shumaker netted his fourth goal of the season as the Patriots led 3-0 in the 12th minute.

Late in the first half, Gio Perod joined the scoring with his fourth tally of the year on a Marentes assist. Sprunger made it 5-0 in the 47th minute with his second goal of the season.

“I think all five of those goals were made off assists,” Horn said. Muhlenkamp added two assists. Perod and Sprunger had helpers as well.

“None of those goals were self-made or anything, just everyone working together,” Horn added. “Gavin making great runs, Cristian sending great balls … It’s just good stuff right now.”

In terms of time spent on the offensive and defensive sides of the field, the teams were about equal. The Patriots were simply better at converting those chances, which Horn attributed to the demeanor of his squad.

“This year compared to the last two or three years, up front we looked comfortable,” he said. “Just the whole time we looked comfortable … I feel like the last few years we’ve kind of seemed rushed when we’ve had the ball. But it’s just comfortability.”

Even though Richmond was able to get the ball deep into the Jay County defensive zone at times, Patriot goalkeeper Ian Ruiz was hardly challenged.

The Patriot defense, led by seniors Johnathon Gierhart and Cameron Henry with junior Brody Auker and sophomore Adam Muhlenkamp, kept Ruiz out of trouble.

“This was them four working together to prevent any shots, any opportunities,” Horn said. Ruiz finished with six saves. “Ian has been more than what I could have asked for in goal. It’s been incredible.”