Highland tops JCHS (09/24/07)

The Patriots lost Saturday. But, the defeat left coach Alan Bailey with a much better feeling than he did a few weeks ago.

Jay County High School's boys soccer team lost 3-1 Saturday to the visiting Anderson Highland Scots, who locked up the Olympic Athletic Conference title with the victory.

After back-to-back losses to South Adams and Bellmont two weeks again, Bailey was unhappy with his team's effort. But that has all turned around after a scoreless tie against an outstanding Marion team Thursday followed by Saturday's hard-fought defeat.

"The kids are playing really hard. They're totally focused," said Bailey. "They know what they need to do now. They've got themselves situated back where they need to be. Now we're getting ready for sectional."

Highland senior Austin Fridley made the difference Saturday as he turned a game that looked as if it might be headed to overtime into a regulation win for the Scots (8-3, 3-0 OAC).

After trailing 1-0 at halftime, Jay County evened the score with 17 minutes to play. The deadlock remained into the final 10 minutes before Fridley put his team back on top.

Fellow senior Andrew Smith chipped the ball up from the midfield area, and Fridley barely beat James Enyart of the Patriots to take control. He then drew goalie Kevin Dirksen out of the net before tapping easily to the left side for what would be the game-winning score.

"We played hard, we just had a couple of mental breakdowns at the wrong times and they're a good enough team to capitalize on that and finish," said Bailey after his team slipped to 5-4-4. "They've probably got one of the top players in Central Indiana with Fridley. He's a good soccer player. We knew that and we shut him down most of the game, but if you give him an inch he's going to take advantage of it."

Jay County pulled its goalie in the final two minutes to get an extra attacker on the field in an effort to tie the score. But, there was some confusion that resulted in a handball in the box to give the Scots a penalty kick.

Fridley converted with a shot to the right past a diving Dirksen for the 3-1 final.

Even with the three-goal win and the conference title, Highland coach Chris Spolyar spent the postgame complimenting the Patriots.

"Jay County deserves all the credit in the world," he said. "Alan's got these boys playing. They played their hearts out. We always know when we play them it's going to be a good game. ... They really outworked us today."

The Scots' opening goal came as somewhat of a surprise, especially to the player who got the score.

About 25 minutes into the first half, Smith worked in from the right side before crossing the ball to Fridley near the left post. A shot got deflected away to George Rowland, who booted it home from point-blank range for his first career goal.

"We've got some injuries. We've got some guys down," said Spolyar. "So (Rowand) is a reserve player who got his opportunity today to play up. We needed somebody for the last 15 minutes of the first half. He came through. He was excited."

Jay County's only goal came with a similar effort as the Patriots stayed persistent in the box. Eventually a Chase Ainsworth shot was deflected away by sophomore defender Taylor Scott, but Brad Horn followed it up with a boot to the left corner to tie the game with 17:25 remaining.

"That was just what we need to do all the time, get down there and be persistent," said Bailey. "Everybody crashed hard and then good things happen."[[In-content Ad]]