JC back on track (09/18/07)

The way things had been going for the Patriots, no lead could be considered safe. However, they never let Anderson Highland back in Monday's game.

Jay County High School's girls soccer team extended its two-goal halftime lead early in the second half and cruised to a 5-1 victory over the visiting Scots.

It was a welcome turn-around for the Patriots, who led at the intermission in each of its last two games only to give up game-winning goals to Bellmont and Centerville in the final two minutes of play.

"It's been very frustrating the last few games that we've played. We've been ahead at halftime and then end up losing in the last few minutes of the game," said JCHS coach Sue Rager, whose team had also lost one-goal games to South Adams and Mount Vernon as part of a four-game losing streak. "The girls really were playing well (today). It seems like we always play our first half really well ... and today it seemed like we still kept the up-tempo going throughout the entire game, which was nice."

The victory pulled Jay County back to within a game of .500 at 4-5 on the season. They are also now 2-0 in the Olympic Athletic Conference and can seal a second straight league title with a win Saturday at Muncie Southside.

"It was nice. We were all tired of losing," said sophomore Kayla Phillips, who scored her first career goal Monday. "We were pumped today. We were ready to go."

Jay County came out firing against the Scots (0-7), barely missing on several opportunities early on before scoring twice in a matter of just over four minutes.

Tequila Guntle started the first scoring strike at the 33:57 mark when she blocked a Highland goal kick, keeping the ball deep on the Patriot end of the field. She got a quick pass to fellow co-captain Brianne Wellman, who fired to the top left corner before the Scots' defense or goalie Maddie Hull had any chance to stop her.

Wellman and Guntle took care of Jay County's second score as well, with the former blasting a shot from the right side. The ball went through Hull's arms and rolled along the goal line before Guntle charged in and knocked it to the back of the net with 29:54 remaining in the half.

The Patriots failed to convert any of their other 16 first-half shots on goal, but pushed their lead again around the 30-minute mark of the second half.

Jay County's third score was well executed, starting with a throw-in by Meagan Logue on the right side. Her toss went to Mallory Poole, and the pair followed with a nice give-and-go before Poole found Abby Loy open in the middle of the field. Loy took a few dribbles and then passed to the left baseline to Pazia Speed, who took control before sending a perfect cross. Phillips was ready, meeting the ball just inside the right post and deflecting it home with 32:55 on the clock for her first career score.

"It's exciting. I didn't think I'd get one," said Phillips, who is normally a stalwart on the back line along with Speed and Holly Gillette. "Pazia made a perfect cross to me and I was just right there and it went in."

Less than four minutes later Dana Horn stole a Highland throw-in and worked up the right side with Lindsay Moser before passing to Loy. The senior beat the Scots' defense on a breakaway and took advantage of her opportunity scoring past Hull to the left side.

Highland finally got on the board with 21 minutes remaining on a high shot from Jessica Bentley, and sophomore Loryn Horn tacked on the Patriots' final score on a pass from her senior sister Dana.

Jay County dominated the game with 26 shots on goal - Highland finished with just 10 - including 16 in the opening half.

Brianne Wellman took five shots, Kaelee Keller had four and Guntle, Speed and Dana Horn each added three.

"Tonight was also a nice game because the girls, even if they weren't playing the positions they normally play in, they had some nice passing," said Rager, who also got nine saves from Loy. "We were able to play all the subs and that was nice too.

"The conference win is great. ... Right now I think I'm looking more towards, and I'm hoping the girls are looking more towards, sectional and trying to peak and be ready. ... Right now that sectional is anybody's (tournament)."[[In-content Ad]]