Huskies blank Jay

YORKTOWN — The Patriots and Huskies had played 128 sectional minutes against each other without a goal being scored.

It took a midfielder’s aggressiveness to find a shot to break the silence.

Addyson Ferguson’s score with 5:10 left in the first half broke the lengthy stalemate and sparked her Hamilton Heights Huskies as they ended Jay County’s season in the IHSAA Class 2A Sectional 24 opening round Tuesday at Yorktown Sports Park.

“I think tonight was one of those nights when you go in and play a team you know that they can be beatable as long as everyone shows up,” said JCHS coach Kendra Muhlenkamp, whose team finished its season at 6-9-1. “Everyone did show up. Everyone gave 100%. … I really couldn’t ask for any more.

“They’re a really good team. That’s kind of the bottom line.”

The win sends the Huskies (10-4-3) to play Delta (9-6-2) in the first of two sectional semifinal games at 5 p.m. tonight at Yorktown Sports Park. (The Eagles disposed of Centerville 9-0 in Tuesday’s other opening-round game, which ended about two minutes early by way of the mercy rule.) New Castle and the host Tigers will follow in the other semifinal.

Ferguson plays a key role in controlling the ball for the Huskies in the midfield. Often that involves sending the ball forward and then dropping back toward the center line. But she’s also not shy about circling the play to make herself an offensive weapon, HHHS coach Jarrod Mason said.

That’s what she did to get the breakthrough goal Tuesday for the Huskies. She was in position in the top right corner of the 18-yard box and ripped a powerful shot that got past Jay County goalie Angel Clairday, hit the net and caromed quickly back out onto the field.

It marked the first goal either team had managed against the other in 128 minutes, 50 seconds, as they played to a scoreless deadlock through regulation and two seven-minute overtime periods before deciding last season’s sectional championship game in penalty kicks.

“This was a tremendous match-up last year,” said Mason. “We knew … nothing was going to be easy. We assumed they would come out with a lot of fire. …

“I’m happy with the score. I’m really happy with how we played.”

The Huskies have now ended the season for Jay County in each of the last five years. The Patriots fell to Hamilton Heights by 5-0 scores in the 2019 opening round and 2020 semifinal, and dropped the 2021 sectional championship game 9-0 before last season’s penalty-kick thriller.

Jay County’s offensive opportunities were generally limited to attempts at through balls, which were either turned away or scooped up by goalie Audrey Lang, and long-distance shots from 20 yards and beyond. 

“When you have someone like number 32 (HHHS senior Annabelle Peterson) … I don’t think a ball went past her,” said Muhlenkamp. “She didn’t mess up at all. … Any type of long ball we had it was either too deep of a ball and the goalie got or (Peterson) would stop it before we got there.”

Goalie Angel Clairday of Jay County slides over to make a save during the second half Tuesday. The Patriots finished their season at 6-9-1. (The Commercial Review/Ray Cooney)

 

Molly Muhlenkamp took three corner kicks in the final 40 seconds of the opening half, with the last one coming closest to a score as Morgan DeHoff’s deflection went off the crossbar. (Had the ball gone in, however, the Patriots were going to be called for offsides.)

JCHS also had a chance to tie the game early in the second half when the Huskies were called for a foul just outside the 18-yard box. The ensuing free kick from Aixa Lopez sailed high and over the goal.

Hamilton Heights tacked on two second-half goals, the first coming on a give-and-go between Lizzy Smith and Ella Hickok. The former found her way through what remained of the Patriot defense after the passes and fired a shot high to the right corner for a 2-0 advantage with 19:12 remaining.

The Huskies’ final goal came just over six minutes later when Hickok, the team’s leading scorer, fended off JCHS senior Ellie Wendel and connected on a shot to the left corner.