July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Momentum halted by tie (10/03/06)
JCHS boys soccer
Momentum halted by tie (10/03/06)
By By RAY COONEY-
Jay County hoped to head into the sectional on the momentum of three straight victories. The team defense of the Lakeview Christian Lions would not allow it.
The host Patriot boys soccer team rallied from a 2-0 deficit, but could not break through the Lakeview Christian defense again as Monday's season finale finished in a 2-2 tie.
About 75 percent of the game was played on Jay County's offensive half of the field, but the Patriots still had all kinds of trouble getting the ball into the net.
"We had a lot of missed opportunities," said JCHS coach Alan Bailey, whose team finished the regular season at 7-6-1. "That's been our season so far.
"I keep saying they're going to start falling, but they haven't so far. We're looking good. If we just get the ball in the net we're there. We've just got to finish."
The Lakeview Christian offense took advantage of its few opportunities, connecting on two of its three shots on goal. The Lion defense used excellent communication, not allowing a Patriot score off of a normal play.
Jay County scored its first goal from a direct kick and got the second by way of a corner kick.
"The corners are the ones that we've lost most of our goals on, unfortunately," said Lakeview Christian coach Deb Sigworth, whose team has just three seniors after graduating nine, including seven starters, last year. "We're working on the experience to deal with that.
"I am very proud. I'd rather walk away with a tie than a loss any day."
After falling behind 2-0, the Patriots pulled within a goal at halftime and tied the game soon after the break.
Luke McClung, one of 10 Jay County seniors playing his final home game, keyed both goals. He started the first after a Lakeview Christian foul, putting a long direct kick right in front of freshman goalie Keaton Whitehead. Whitehead knocked the ball away, but Patriot junior Trey Dunn came flying in to head the ball into the net with 8:17 left on the first-half clock.
McClung and senior Scott "Scooter" Bruggeman just missed on a direct kick/header connection five minutes into the second half, but made up for it two minutes later. At the 33:15 mark McClung took a corner kick from the left side, finding Bruggeman in front of the goal. Scooter's header went past Whitehead to the left corner to tie the score.
"I wasn't worried about the 2-0 hole," said Bailey. "That didn't concern me too much. But we've been digging too many of those holes."
Jay County dominated the ball and had several chances in the final 30 minutes, but seniors Lucas Karpe and Mason Shreve both missed shots over the top, Bruggeman sent one wide right and McClung pushed one wide left. The Patriots totaled eight shots on goal, including four from Bruggeman and two by McClung.
The Lions (8-5-2) scored both of their goals on passes through from the right side.
After a scoreless opening 19 minutes, Lakeview Christian junior David Collins stole a Patriot throw-in from the right side. He dove forward and passed through to sophomore Derek Miller running outside of the left post. He took a dribble or two the shot off the right post and in for a 1-0 lead.
Miller started Lakeview Christian's second score, passing three from the right side with just under 10 minutes left in the first half. Jay County senior defender Justin Budde, senior goalie Derek Mills and a Marion forward rushed after the ball near the left post. None of them were able to control the ball as it popped free in the middle of the 18-yard box.
Lion junior Jordan Shepherd was ran in to knock the ball into the open net. The Patriots scored its first goal 1:19 later and tied the game early in the second half for the final margin.
Mills finished with one save for the Patriots, and Kyle Laux, Ryan Wellman, Justin Upp and Austin May also played their final home game. Whitehead had six saves for Lakeview Christian.
Jay County will return to action Thursday when it plays South Adams in the semifinal round of the Blackford sectional. The Starfires defeated the Patriots 2-1 Sept. 9.
"I think the kids will be ready for South Adams," said Bailey. "We need to get more of a push on the ball then we did in the first game. We didn't control the ball enough in the midfield."[[In-content Ad]]
The host Patriot boys soccer team rallied from a 2-0 deficit, but could not break through the Lakeview Christian defense again as Monday's season finale finished in a 2-2 tie.
About 75 percent of the game was played on Jay County's offensive half of the field, but the Patriots still had all kinds of trouble getting the ball into the net.
"We had a lot of missed opportunities," said JCHS coach Alan Bailey, whose team finished the regular season at 7-6-1. "That's been our season so far.
"I keep saying they're going to start falling, but they haven't so far. We're looking good. If we just get the ball in the net we're there. We've just got to finish."
The Lakeview Christian offense took advantage of its few opportunities, connecting on two of its three shots on goal. The Lion defense used excellent communication, not allowing a Patriot score off of a normal play.
Jay County scored its first goal from a direct kick and got the second by way of a corner kick.
"The corners are the ones that we've lost most of our goals on, unfortunately," said Lakeview Christian coach Deb Sigworth, whose team has just three seniors after graduating nine, including seven starters, last year. "We're working on the experience to deal with that.
"I am very proud. I'd rather walk away with a tie than a loss any day."
After falling behind 2-0, the Patriots pulled within a goal at halftime and tied the game soon after the break.
Luke McClung, one of 10 Jay County seniors playing his final home game, keyed both goals. He started the first after a Lakeview Christian foul, putting a long direct kick right in front of freshman goalie Keaton Whitehead. Whitehead knocked the ball away, but Patriot junior Trey Dunn came flying in to head the ball into the net with 8:17 left on the first-half clock.
McClung and senior Scott "Scooter" Bruggeman just missed on a direct kick/header connection five minutes into the second half, but made up for it two minutes later. At the 33:15 mark McClung took a corner kick from the left side, finding Bruggeman in front of the goal. Scooter's header went past Whitehead to the left corner to tie the score.
"I wasn't worried about the 2-0 hole," said Bailey. "That didn't concern me too much. But we've been digging too many of those holes."
Jay County dominated the ball and had several chances in the final 30 minutes, but seniors Lucas Karpe and Mason Shreve both missed shots over the top, Bruggeman sent one wide right and McClung pushed one wide left. The Patriots totaled eight shots on goal, including four from Bruggeman and two by McClung.
The Lions (8-5-2) scored both of their goals on passes through from the right side.
After a scoreless opening 19 minutes, Lakeview Christian junior David Collins stole a Patriot throw-in from the right side. He dove forward and passed through to sophomore Derek Miller running outside of the left post. He took a dribble or two the shot off the right post and in for a 1-0 lead.
Miller started Lakeview Christian's second score, passing three from the right side with just under 10 minutes left in the first half. Jay County senior defender Justin Budde, senior goalie Derek Mills and a Marion forward rushed after the ball near the left post. None of them were able to control the ball as it popped free in the middle of the 18-yard box.
Lion junior Jordan Shepherd was ran in to knock the ball into the open net. The Patriots scored its first goal 1:19 later and tied the game early in the second half for the final margin.
Mills finished with one save for the Patriots, and Kyle Laux, Ryan Wellman, Justin Upp and Austin May also played their final home game. Whitehead had six saves for Lakeview Christian.
Jay County will return to action Thursday when it plays South Adams in the semifinal round of the Blackford sectional. The Starfires defeated the Patriots 2-1 Sept. 9.
"I think the kids will be ready for South Adams," said Bailey. "We need to get more of a push on the ball then we did in the first game. We didn't control the ball enough in the midfield."[[In-content Ad]]
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