Jay blasts Lions

The record book indicated that Liberty Christian and the Patriots were evenly matched teams.

The scoreboard did not.

Both squads entered Thursday's boys soccer game with 10 wins and four losses, but Jay County High School scored twice in the first 10 minutes and pulled away in the second half for a 6-1 victory over the visiting Lions.

"What an excellent game," said JCHS coach Alan Bailey of his squad's third straight win. "These kids are playing well right now. Let's hope we can keep it rolling.

"We just came out and played well from front to back. You couldn't ask for anything more. Everything was clicking tonight."

The Lions (10-5-1) made some early pushes up the field, but Jay County (11-4) quickly turned the tide and controlled most of the game.

Senior Ben Brandt started the first-half scoring for the Patriots when he took the ball just inside of midfield and sent a perfect pass forward to scoring leader Brad Horn heading toward the left post. Taking the pass behind the Liberty Christian defense, Horn shot back inside the right post for the 1-0 lead at the 32:28 mark.

Horn scored on a left-to-right shot again just over two minutes later, this time on an assist from Patrick Johnson.

The score remained 2-0 through the rest of the opening half before a pass from Horn keyed the first JCHS goal of the second half.

His pass led Jeremiah Cotherman to the end line on the left side, and Cotherman sent a pass back across the front of the goal. Three Patriots were waiting for it, and the first of the group, Carlos Esquivel, redirected it into the net at the 35:40 mark.

With 27:21 to go goalie Daniel Pleninger deflected a Johnson shot, but Dillon Ainsworth was there on the follow-up to push the lead to 4-0. Horn scored his third goal - it marked the seventh time he has scored three or more goals in a game this season - less than two minutes later.

The final tally came as Horn passed to Johnson, whose shot deflected off Pleninger and into the net.

"The midfield is getting nice through balls," said Bailey. "Brad's still doing his thing. Patrick is still doing his thing. We've just got to keep this up.

"I liked Dillon's (goal) on the crash. That was just being there when he should be."

The only Liberty Christian goal came after the Patriots had cleared the bench. JCHS was called for a handball in the 18-yard box, and Mitch Ayers converted the ensuing penalty kick past Ainsworth to the right corner.

The varsity defense, made up Thursday of Ainsworth, Colton Bartlett, Garrett Krieg, Alex Dunn and Gary Corle, hasn't allowed a goal in the last three games. Adam Daniels had four saves against the Lions and Ainsworth made two.

"The defense played well," said Bailey. "They're talking well. ... It's almost like they just know each other that well now that they don't have to talk that much. They know what they have to do. They're seeing the field well. ... And we're playing fast. ... We challenge every ball."

The game was the home finale for Jay County, which closes the season Monday at Lakeview Christian before meeting South Adams Thursday in the Blackford sectional. Bailey complimented seniors Horn, Johnson, Esquivel, Brandt, Cotherman and Daniels, who have compiled a 29-5-1 record thus far in the junior and senior years.

"That's impressive. Double-digit wins, that's a goal that everybody should be proud of every year," Bailey said of his team's 11 victories so far this year. "(The seniors) are such a tight-knit group and they play so well together. ... They just know they've got a job to do and they step on the field and do it."

Jay County also won the junior varsity game 2-1. Dylan Swingley and Heng Hong each scored for the Patriots, and Chris Stephens made four saves.[[In-content Ad]]