Bellmont tops tired Patriots (09/18/03)

PORTLAND — It may all finally be catching up to them.

For several weeks the Jay County boys soccer team has been missing a group of starters, and this marks the third straight week the team will play three games. A strong Bellmont Braves team took advantage Wednesday, handing the Patriots back-to-back losses for the first time this season 2-0.

The defeat came on the heels of a 3-2 loss at Huntington North Tuesday, as the Vikings all but eliminated Jay County from contention for the Olympic Athletic Conference title for the second straight season. The loss to Bellmont marked the first time the Patriots (8-3) have been shut out this year.

“We’re getting tired,” said Jay County coach Alan Bailey. “We’re definitely getting worn out.

“We’re playing hurt, and we played a 12-senior team tonight.

“It’s adversity we’ve got to work through.”

Bailey has been without Aaron Poole (out for the season with torn knee ligaments) and Nick May (broken right little toe) for a while, but switched his lineup dramatically against the Braves.

He moved Trent Bailey out of the goal and onto the front line, dropping Drew Lloyd back to goalie. That left Adam Brandt as the lone remaining starter on the defensive back line.

With Bailey moved to the front, and the full-time return of Chad Keen to the left side, Dave Johnston pushed out to the right wing and freshmen Scott “Scooter” Bruggeman and Luke McClung dropped back to midfield.

While Brandt, Jonas Schoenherr and Josh Thornburg did a nice job defensively trying to keep the pressure off Lloyd, and Lloyd did a great job in goal, they simply could not stop the endless Braves’ attack.

Bellmont (6-2-1) was constantly on the offensive, breaking down the right sideline almost at will.

The Braves got their first score from the other side, as senior Ryan Mendez dribbled through the defense near the left baseline. Lloyd was left without much opportunity as Mendez slammed a shot past him from about 10 yards out with 20:10 to play in the first half.

The score stayed at 1-0 at halftime and through the first 10 minutes of the second half thanks to a variety of outstanding diving saves by Lloyd.

The second Bellmont score came after a drive down the right side, with the ball eventually ending up back in the middle of the field at the feet of senior Nate Reinking. He drilled a shot from the top of the 18-yard box at the 26:20 mark of the second half, and managed to squeak it just out of Lloyd’s reach as he dove toward the left post.

“I have to tell you,” said Bellmont coach Dave Spaulding, “I was kind of scared coming down here with their 8-2 record. I think this was a really good game for us.

“This is probably as well as we’ve played at Jay County since I’ve been here the last 10 years. I was real pleased.”

“This team was a very good passing team,” said Bailey. “Hopefully we’ll learn something from it.”

The Braves severely outshout Jay County in the contest, taking more than 20 shots on goal.

The Patriots were limited to single digits.

They had just a few good tries at scoring, with a Trent Bailey header easily saved and a breakaway from Kyle Carpenter denied by sophomore goaltender Tyler Rash.

Jay County’s best push of the night came when Bruggeman exploded from his midfield spot into the right corner and got the ball back in to Sergio Woo. Woo passed to Mason Shreve, who dumped the ball to Bailey, but his shot flew over the top of the crossbar.

The Patriots play one more time this week when they visit Yorktown (8-1) Saturday at 11:30 a.m.[[In-content Ad]]