September 26, 2019 at 4:35 p.m.

Time is running out to catch some fútbol

Line Drives

There aren’t many chances left.

As we hit the end of September and roll into my favorite month of the year, I’d like to extend a bit of an invitation: Go watch some fútbol.

The Jay County High School boys and girls soccer teams combined have three home games remaining before postseason begins.

(The tournament draw is Sunday. The JCHS girls go to New Castle, while the boys return to Yorktown.)

But before we gear up for the sectional tournaments, take the time to head over to JCHS to watch these kids play soccer. You won’t regret it.

The Patriot girls team has won back-to-back games and four of its last five. During that span it scored two late goals in four minutes to beat Delta — a sectional rival — by a 5-4 margin, shut out Centerville, defeated Norwell and topped South Adams to win the Allen County Athletic Conference championship for an unprecedented fifth consecutive year.

Jay County sports a 7-3 record and hosts sectional rival Yorktown Tigers at 5 p.m. tonight.

There’s a bit of history between them. Since they were placed in the same sectional in 2011, they have met in the tournament all but one season, 2017. They squared off in the final from 2011 through ’15. Jay County won back-to-back titles in 2013 and ’14 by 1-0 scores. A year later the Tigers won 4-1, and then 5-4 on penalty kicks in 2016.

A year ago, the Tigers thumped the Patriots 8-4 in the semifinal after falling during the regular season, 5-2.

Elizabeth Reece and Lea Alexander have 21 goals apiece to lead the Tiger offense. (Reece scored five times in last year’s sectional game semifinal.)

Jay County has a freshman, Gabi Bilbrey, who could challenge the career scoring record of 2016 graduate Gabbie Mann. Bilbrey has 12 already this year. Mann’s record is 63.

Bilbrey has players around her who can score too. Seniors Anhely Montes and Halle Hill have six goals each. Mara Bader, Bilbrey’s classmate, has five.

Tricia Ison is between the pipes for JCHS, and she’s playing with much more poise than a first-year keeper should.

Tonight should be a battle. 

Jay County’s boys team is having its best season in a decade.

Currently, the Patriots sit at 7-4, and they’re 5-2 in their last seven games.

Sophomore Gavin Muhlenkamp has a team-high eight goals, and classmate Cristian Marentes trails him by one. Hunter Shumaker and Gio Perod have five and six goals respectively.

The JCHS boys host Liberty Christian Oct. 3 and Oak Hill two days later.

Both teams are in the midst of special seasons. It’d be a shame to miss out on seeing them play.
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