JC blasts the Rebels (09/29/2008)

The 2008 season has often been a struggle. Even so, there are things for the Patriots to be proud of.

Jay County High School's girls soccer team accomplished one of those Saturday, defeating the visiting Muncie Southside Rebels 7-0 to finish as the Olympic Athletic Conference runners-up.

"I never thought of that," said first-year JCHS coach Ed Wellman, whose team dropped its conference opener 3-0 to Connersville Aug. 26 but defeated Anderson Highland 5-1 Monday before the win over Southside. "I guess I was looking for us to be playing our best soccer at the end of the year, looking for the improvement from game to game because eight of our 15 kids are first-year kids. That's what I was shooting for, and that's what we've got. We're playing our best soccer now.

"To be second in the conference, I'm pretty happy."

Also, the IHSAA held the drawing for the state tournament this morning and Jay County will meet Eastern (Greentown) in the first round of the Marion sectional.

The Patriots (2-8-1, 2-1 OAC) needed just over a minute to take the lead Saturday, and eventually put the game away with a five-goal barrage in the second half.

Senior Brianne Wellman, Ed's daughter, got the scoring started early after taking a pass from sophomore Lindsay Moser. She lifted the ball over goalie Hayley Walden's head from just outside the 18-yard box for a 1-0 lead just 1:06 into the game.

Wellman scored Jay County's second goal as well, this time unassisted from about 30 yards out. She dropped back from the front line after her second score, but still added a third midway through the second half for a hat trick.

Fellow senior Kaelee Keller scored a pair of unassisted goals in the second half. The first came as she easily cruised past Rebel defender Karissa Gors on the right side at the 19:36 mark, and the second was on a shot from just outside the 18-yard box.

Ed Wellman complimented the seniors not only on their scoring, but on their efforts to create scoring opportunities for their teammates as well.

"They did a real nice job out there as captains not stealing the show," he said. "They got everybody else involved.

"I can really see the confidence building in the girls."

After Wellman's pair of first-half goals, a new scorer got on the board five minutes into the second half. Shayla Gibbs, a sophomore first-year soccer player, crashed the goal box on the right side and scored her first career goal off an assist from classmate Loryn Horn.

Wellman followed with her third goal and then Keller scored her pair before another new face got into the act.

That came when junior captain Kayla Phillips passed to freshman Tiffany Huelskamp, who converted from inside the 18-yard box for her first career goal.

The seven total goals were a season-high for the Patriots, surpassing the five scored against Highland. They had scored just seven goals in their first eight games.

"The girls, they're really starting to understand the game ... both defensively and offensively," said Wellman. "Defensively, we were staying close to our mark. I think the girls found out that if you stay close to your mark, you can step in front of the ball and control the ball more. The team that controls the ball usually wins the match.

"Offensively, we're understanding our positions much better. We're finding our midfielders and we're bringing the ball down the field using give-and-gos and through balls when we can.

"What I'm seeing now in the last three matches is just a much better understanding of the game. The girls are putting themselves in a position where they're supposed to be."

Saturday's scoring output came on the power of 67 shots, which included 16 by Wellman, 14 by Keller and 11 from Moser. Phillips added eight shots, and Huelskamp took six.

Jay County and Eastern will meet in the first of two opening-round games Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 5 p.m. Marion and South Adams will follow at 7 p.m. Another first-round game will be played between Oak Hill and Norwell Monday at 6 p.m.

The Jay County/Eastern winner will advance to play the South Adams/Marion winner in the semifinal round Thursday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m. The Oak Hill/Norwell winner will battle Blackford in the 5 p.m. semifinal game.

The championship game will be Saturday, Oct. 18, at 5 p.m., and the winner will advance to the Bellmont regional.

The Patriots have played just two sectional opponents so far this year, losing 6-0 to Norwell and 7-1 to South Adams. They play at Blackford Tuesday.[[In-content Ad]]