Jay tops Bellmont in sectional (10/11/05)

HARTFORD CITY — Occasionally the better team ends up on the losing end of the score.

The Patriots thought that was the case when they fell 2-1 to the Bellmont Braves Sept. 14. They proved their point Tuesday.

Given the chance for redemption, the Jay County boys soccer team rolled out to a 3-0 lead en route to a 4-1 victory over Bellmont in their sectional quarterfinal match at Blackford.

“We were ready for these guys,” said JCHS coach Alan Bailey. “I knew we were a better team. ... The kids just came out to play.

“I’m proud of these boys. We’re a good soccer team right now. We’ll play with Norwell. We’ll give them a game. We won’t back down from them.”

Jay County will meet the Norwell Knights in the first of two semifinal games at Blackford Saturday at 11 a.m. Norwell, which defeated the Patriots 7-0 Sept. 1, topped Huntington North in Monday’s other sectional quarterfinal match.

Marion Lakeview Christian will meet Blackford in the first of two quarterfinal matches Wednesday, followed by South Adams taking on Marion. The winners of those games will play Saturday at 1 p.m., and the championship game will follow at 7 p.m.

The Patriots (10-5-1) took control in their rematch against Bellmont by taking advantage of free chances. Each of their first two goals came when the Braves committed fouls near midfield.

Luke McClung made Bellmont pay for its errors, first taking an indirect kick after Vlady Bjelica was fouled less than 10 minutes into the game. McClung launched a kick from near midfield, finding fellow junior Scott “Scooter” Bruggeman right in front of the goal.

Bruggeman tapped the ball past goalie Tyler Rash to the right corner for the 1-0 lead at the 31:15 mark of the first half.

The same scenario played itself out again 15 minutes later when the Braves were called for another foul.

Kicking from near the center stripe on the right side, McClung again sent a high ball toward the right post. A mob of players went after the ball and Jay County junior Mason Shreve got his head on it. He knocked the ball to his left to Bjelica, who was all alone for the easy score.

The Patriots scored again with 8:35 to go in the first half when Bruggeman sent in a great pass from the right side. Bjelica was on the spot, charging in from the left with a header for his second goal of the game and a 3-0 lead.

“The goals that they had tonight were the result of us committing fouls on our defensive end,” said Bellmont coach Spencer Folkerts, whose team finished at 9-8. “It gave them clear opportunities to set guys deep, put it in the air and get their heads on the ball. In their regular attack they weren’t getting those opportunities. When they had those opportunities they took advantage of it. They really executed what they needed to do.”

Bellmont got on the board just 1:31 into the second half on a header by Jared Friedt on an assist from Jacob Briede. But Jay County would not allow a comeback as McClung and Bruggeman hooked up on another score with 31 minutes remaining.

The Patriots got their four scores with just five shots on goal, all from Bruggeman and Bjelica. McClung had a pair of assists, and Bruggeman and Shreve each got one.

“They were focused,” said Bailey. “I saw Vlady warming up before the game and he was totally focused. ... Scoot and Luke both show up every game.”

Bellmont managed just three shots on goal in the game with Jay County goalie Derek Mills saving two.

Bailey said the defense has really come on in the last couple of weeks, especially anchored in the last two games by senior Matt Darby.

“Our last game (against Muncie Central) he played so hard,” said Bailey. “He’s been attacking. He came alive that last game and again here tonight. He was attacking every ball. All three of them back there ... are doing a great job.”[[In-content Ad]]