Undefeated JC wins sectional title (10/13/2008)

HARTFORD CITY - No team has been able to hold JCHS scoreless for eighty minutes this season.

And with a regional berth on the line, that didn't change.

Blackford tried a defensive strategy Saturday, hoping it could keep the Patriots off the scoreboard and possibly get a chance at a penalty-kick shootout.

But Isaac Poole broke a scoreless tie less than five minutes into the second half and Jay County High School picked up just its second boys soccer sectional title 3-1 over the host Bruins.

"It's unreal," said JCHS coach Alan Bailey, whose team is now 16-0-1. "It's all about what these kids have done. "I'm proud of the boys. It was well-played, well-deserved. I'm just happy for the kids."

"I honestly think we have as good a shot as anybody of going and winning that regional."

The Patriots will play Anderson in the regional semifinal round at Blackford Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

Blackford coach Jeff Slusser, whose team lost 6-3 to the Patriots during the regular season, said he went to the defensive-minded strategy after watching the Patriots beat South Adams 4-1 in the semifinal round Thursday.

"We adjusted the way we play defense ... and it worked for a while," he said. "The two goals above the first one were kind of gravy I think.

"That first one hurt us, and I don't think we really recovered from it."

That key score came, not surprisingly, from a pair of Jay County's senior leaders.

After Brad Horn and Lance Louth picked up possession for the Patriots on the left side of the field, Horn passed to senior Trey Dunn in the middle. He worked to his right around some defenders and fired a shot from about 20 yards out.

Blackford goalie Nick Musgrave was able to stop the shot, but did not get control of the ball and JCHS senior Isaac Poole knocked it in for a 1-0 lead.

"Right place, right time," said JCHS coach Alan Bailey. "We put so much pressure on their backs in the first half ... We knew if we kept the pressure on they would break down and make a mistake somewhere, and that's exactly what happened. We got a break down, and there we were to finish it off."

Poole's goal came just 4:23 into the second half after the teams played a scoreless first. It was his 22nd of the season, second only to Horn's 26.

"Trey had a real nice shot at the keeper, and the keeper couldn't handle it," said Poole. "I just ran in and finished it. But a lot of credit goes to him for the shot."

While they trailed by just a single goal, the Bruins (11-7) were unable to make any runs at tying the game with half the team playing back to try to keep Jay County off the board.

The Patriot lead remained one goal for more than 25 minutes until Horn sealed the championship.

His first score came off a corner kick by Patrick Johnson on the right side. The ball bounced around with the Bruins unable to clear it, and Horn eventually made them pay with a goal to the left side of Musgrave.

"At the beginning of the year we conditioned so much," said Horn. "We wear teams out. In the second half, their D had nothing left."

After taking a short breather, Horn walked onto the field, took a throw-in from Brady Mills and quickly scored again with 6:35 left in the game.

"I brought him out to get a quick drink so I could let him rest a little bit," said Bailey of Horn. "Then he comes in and scores 10 seconds later. He's just got that mentality. That's what I love about these kids.

"(Horn and Poole) are winners. They play like winners. You can't ask for anything more out of those two kids right there."

Blackford's lone goal came with just 5:12 remaining in the game when goalie Adam Daniels was called for a tackle inside the 18-yard box. Jon Slusser converted the ensuing penalty kick to erase the shutout.

Still, it was another stand-out performance for the defense, anchored by David Darby, Jordan Moser and Joe Rasmussen. The Bruins managed just seven shots overall - five on goal - before the PK, compared to 29 total shots and 16 on goal for JCHS.

Jay County, which has won seven in a row since tying Centerville 1-1 Sept. 20, has allowed just three goals in its last five games.

Anderson (11-4) earned its sectional championship with a 2-0 victory over Anderson Highland, a team Jay County beat 4-2 during the regular season. Muncie Central (11-6-2), which the Patriots defeated 4-2 in their season opener, and New Haven (12-6) play in the other regional semifinal.

"Obviously we're trying to win out, but we've just got to take it one game at a time," said Dunn. "We've set our goals high ... but we've got to come into every game with the mentality that it could be our last."

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