Familial problems

By ANDREW BALKO

The Commercial Review

YORKTOWN — Kendra Muhlenkamp, the Patriots coach, knows the value of playing with your siblings after playing soccer with her sisters Emily and Briana.

So she couldn't underestimate the impact that three sets of siblings, including a cousin to two sisters, would have on the Eagles’ chemistry. The final result of that chemistry was enough goals to end the game early.

The Jay County High School girls soccer team got bounced from the IHSAA Sectional 24 semifinal hosted by Yorktown with a 9-0 loss to the Delta Eagles in 60 minutes.

The win earned Delta (16-1) a spot in Saturday’s final against New Castle, which beat Mississinewa after hitting four penalty kicks in the early semifinal.

“The first time we played Delta, I felt like we could have played better,” said Muhlenkamp, referencing the 7-0 loss during the regular season. “Coming out tonight, Delta just proved right away that they were the better team.”

The Eagles wasted no time as they jumped out to a 5-0 advantage in the first half and put another three goals on Jay County (12-5-1) in 10 minutes to reach the necessary mark for the mercy rule.

Delta’s spacing, passing and chemistry overpowered JCHS throughout the match and kept the ball on the Patriots’ half of the field.

“You can try to pair up people and be teammates and have the best chemistry ever, but chemistry with sisters, you can’t top that,” said Muhlenkamp, referencing the three Jarrells, – Grace Jarrells is a cousin to the other two sisters – Bunches and Thorpes. “I was blessed enough to play with two of my sisters in high school and it makes a world of difference. You know what they’re thinking before they even do it.”

All nine of the goals scored and four of the five assists all came from players with either the last name Jarrells or Bunch.

The first goal came from a Shiloh Bunch throw-in to her older sister Jordan Bunch, who shuffled the ball to Grace Jarrells for the score. One minute later, Grace Jarrells delivered the ball to her cousin, Avery Jarrells, who beat Emma Hatzell up the left side of the field to score.

Midway through the first half, Aubree Jarrells took a shot from 25 yards out, and while Maleah Parsons saved it, her younger sister Avery Jarrells put the rebound in to go up 3-0.

The fourth score came with 12 minutes, 17 seconds remaining as Jordan Bunch worked the ball up the left side before finding Grace Jarrells again.

Less than three minutes went by before Grace Jarrells took a corner kick that curved to hit Parsons’ gloves directly and deflect into the goal.

The Eagles didn’t let up in the second half as Avery Jarrells got fouled inside the box 46 seconds in and hit the penalty kick.

The seventh goal involved the only non-relative as Avery Jarrells moved the ball up the right sideline before dishing it to Aurora Thorpe (who also has a sibling on the team in defender Makayla Thorpe). Aurora Thorpe then found Jordan Bunch inside the box for a chip shot for the goal.

DHS scored two more times on corner kicks from Grace Jarrells. The first was an assist as the ball came off of Avery Jarrells’ head, while the second ricocheted off of JCHS defender Ariel Beiswanger.

The Patriots had a handful of opportunities in the first half that ultimately led to nothing. Ruth Sherck had to make three saves on Raylin Hummer, Aixa Lopez and Raylah Newton.

Delta’s defensive line also made multiple stops to prevent the ball from ever getting to Sherck. Two of those situations included Aubree Jarrells blowing up an open cross from London Lloyd to Hummer and Adoree Smith tracking down Charlee Peters to clear a through ball from Lopez.

“Defensively, we’ve been solid all year,” said DHS coach Mason Turner. “Ruth has probably had half the amount of saves she’s had the past three seasons because defensively, we’ve worked really hard on trying to stop it from getting to Ruth.”

While the Patriots won’t be playing for a sectional championship on Saturday, Muhlenkamp was able to look at the bigger picture.

“One of the things I told them (postmatch), ‘Why are we crying? If we weren’t crying, we didn’t care.’” Muhlenkamp said. “This senior group was my freshman babies. Me being new into coaching, they gave me a shot and proved time and time how great it is to be their coach. … Their soccer journey has ended, except for Aixa, … they’re going on with life in the adult world. I’m going to be rooting for them and they’re going to do great things.”