Knights top Jay Co. (09/21/06)

Jay County continued to edge closer Wednesday, but still couldn't keep up with the Norwell Knights.

The Patriot boys soccer team lost to Norwell for the fifth time in the last three seasons Wednesday, falling 3-1.

The Knights, who have knocked Jay County out of the sectional tournament in each of the last two years, defeated the Patriots 10-0 during the regular season in 2004 and 7-1 in 2005.

"I thought Jay County played a very good game," said Norwell coach Jeremy Steele, whose team pushed its record over .500 at 5-4-1. "They were much improved. They played very well. It was a back-and-forth game."

A Scott "Scooter" Bruggeman penalty kick goal had the Patriots tied with Norwell midway through the first half, and the home team trailed just 2-1 at the intermission. But an outstanding score early in the second half gave the Knights control for good.

Following a missed opportunity on a corner kick by Brady Freiburger from the left side, the senior got another chance from the right. His kick soared too far, but senior Andrew Gerz got to the ball on the left side and knocked it back across with a header.

Gerz's header was perfect, sending the ball right to Joshua Ackerman at the left post. Ackerman didn't bother with his feet, also using a header to knock the ball between the right post and Patriot goalie Derek Mills for a 3-1 lead.

"We've worked recently on not being as selfish," said Steele. "The ball ended up going way past the far post and we sent it back through. It's easy to get lost when the ball gets sent back across and we were open on the back side."

Norwell opened the scoring less than seven minutes into the game after a ton of action in front of the goal as the Patriots failed to clear the ball. Senior Jared DeArmond finally took control of the ball near the left post, spun and shot past Mills to the left corner.

Bruggeman outran a pair of Norwell defenders to the ball at the 25:51 mark and was tripped inside the 18-yard box. His penalty kick went off goalie Adam Harris' arm and into the net to tie the game.

But the Knights took the lead back nine minutes later when junior Zachary Pearson won the ball on the Jay County half of the field. Pearson quickly passed forward to DeArmond on the left side, and he shot past Mills from just inside the box.

Mills denied Norwell with great saves on several other occasions, keeping the Patriots within striking distance throughout.

His best save came just three minutes into the game when Ackerman blasted the ball from point blank range. Mills lunged to his right and got his arm on the ball, knocking it over the top of the crossbar.

"It's unbelievable the saves he's been getting for us," said JCHS coach Alan Bailey of Mills, who finished with eight saves.

"We'd be getting our butts clobbered if it wasn't for some of the saves that he's been making. The kid's got some college potential ... that one (by Ackerman) off his arm, that was smoked. ... Mills is playing excellent soccer right now."

Jay County (5-5) strung together four straight wins after a season-opening loss to Muncie Central, but has lost four of its last five games. The Patriots, who had just three shots on goal to the Knights' 11, missed several scoring opportunities against Norwell when they failed to put shots on the net, rather sending the ball wide or over the top.

"Usually it's off the post," said Bailey. "That's just the way we've been. We just can't put it in the net.

"Our touches are off. The little stuff isn't happening right now. And we can't find the net for some reason. We're just struggling to put it in the net against equal teams.

"We've got to keep our heads up. We're playing hard. We're busting our butts all over the field. Our passing looks good. It's just all got to come together sooner or later."[[In-content Ad]]