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Jackson freshman steps forward in Indians' 2 OT win against NDFriday, October 3, 2008
JACKSON — Freshman Clayton Baker was asked by Jackson coach Zack Walton to take on a new role as a forward when this fall season began. Baker, who played mostly midfield while playing soccer in St. Louis before entering high school, scored the game winning goal against Notre Dame on Thursday, leading the Indians past the rival Bulldogs 1-0 in double overtime. "It's a big victory," Baker said. "Our defense played really well and has won some of our games for us, and I capitalized on that goal." Jackson improved to 7-8. Notre Dame dropped to 11-2. Baker's goal came with time winding down in double overtime and a shootout looming. Baker kicked it past Bulldogs keeper Ryan Bass from about 20 feet out. "I passed the ball to [Tyler Trierweiler], he took it to the corner, and had a nice cross in, and then Notre Dame had a weak ball out, and I shot it and it ricocheted in," Baker said. The game was physical with the Bulldogs given three yellow cards and Jackson flashed two yellow cards. Notre Dame senior Nick Wren also was taken to the hospital with a compound fracture in his right arm, Notre Dame coach Brad Wittenborn said. "Any time you're going to play Cape (Central) and Notre Dame, it's going to get physical out there," Walton said. "You've just kind of got to expect it's going to happen." Notre Dame had five shots on goal and Jackson had six. The Bulldogs had 18 shots overall and the Indians had eight. "I think both teams played hard," Wittenborn said. "We lost our composure a little bit after Nick Wren got hurt. It looks like he's got a compound fracture of the arm. The bone was coming through the skin a little bit there. ... The kids were visibly upset. I think we lost our composure for a little bit after. I was doing my best to try to get us focused, and maybe I didn't do a good enough job. I thought at the end of the game we played pretty well. The ball bounced the right way for them and the wrong way for us." Walton said he needed a player to step up at forward and Baker has done the job. "Clayton's a very versatile player," Walton said. "We can play him anywhere we really need him. Right now we needed a forward. That was the big hole we needed to fill this year. And he's been able to step up and do that. I think if we needed a defender, we could probably move him back as well, too." Baker said he likes playing forward more than the midfield. "I like it a lot up there, especially when our mids are passing to our feet," Baker said. Baker has an older brother, junior Corey Baker, who is a sweeper for Jackson. Baker said his brother has helped him adjust to the varsity team. I think he played awesome [today]," Clayton Baker said of his brother's effort. "Our whole defense was strong." Jackson senior goalie Justin Darnell recorded five saves. Jackson has now beaten both Central and Notre Dame on its home field this season. "It's huge," Darnell said of the win. "It's almost bigger than Cape. This is one of the rare years where we've beaten Cape and Notre Dame on our home field. It just feels amazing. "[Baker] really stepped up. He's not a forward, but he's stepped up and become a forward for us."
Notre Dame's Brock Dirnberger, left, and Jackson's Todd Heuring collided while heading the ball during the first half Thursday night.
Notre Dame's Brock Dirnberger, left, and Jackson's Todd Heuring collide while heading the ball during the first half of a 1-0 Indian victory in double overtime at Jackson Thursday night. (ELIZABETH DODD ~ edodd@semissourian.com ) [Order this photo]
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I wasn't at the game, but I would agree that JP is the best ref in the region. When we had a big game, I was always happy to see him calling it. Hopefully he'll do the game Thursday as well.
ND parents bitter? Do you really think Clayton went in expecting to break his arm? If you're going to field a soccer team, or any athletic team for that matter, you need to realize that things are going to get physical. I seriously doubt crying about this now is going to fix nick's arm so let's move on.
P.S. For the people who say Jackson displays bad sportsmanship and are "taught" to do this, you are ignorant. What's really classless is saying you're going to get "revenge" on a freshman playing his heart out...
I beg to differ, uss_ref_07, the Jackson freshman was not held back for sports. What a ridiculous statement! Who makes that decision at age 5? I know his parents personally and thier intentitions were aimed at what suited their son's best interest. Yes there were other players on the field and they should all be congratulated for playing a great game. Can't we just enjoy the win?
I am a student at SEMO that attended the game because I was told it was to be a good match. I am not from ND or Jackson but it is to my understanding that leaving these comments is not good sportsmanship. I don't see how you can say the things you say to each other and call that good sportsmanship. Jackson is doing well with class, sportsmanship, and any other area mentioned. They are well rounded players and coaches. For everyone one who thinks otherwise look at your own team. Every soccer team in the area is just as aggresive as every other soccer team, it's all about who wants it more. It is unfortunate that the ND player and the Jackson player both were injured but it is part of the sport, it happens. Good luck to both teams. See everyong on Thursday. As for myself, I will be wearing red and black.
I am a student at SEMO that attended the game because I was told it was to be a good match. I am not from ND or Jackson but it is to my understanding that leaving these comments is not good sportsmanship. I don't see how you can say the things you say to each other and call that good sportsmanship. Jackson is doing well with class, sportsmanship, and any other area mentioned. They are well rounded players and coaches. For everyone one who thinks otherwise look at your own team. Every soccer team in the area is just as aggresive as every other soccer team, it's all about who wants it more. It is unfortunate that the ND player and the Jackson player both were injured but it is part of the sport, it happens. Good luck to both teams. See everyong on Thursday. As for myself, I will be wearing red and black.
Wasn't at the game...just saw the replay on semoball. It probably wasn't as clear on there how many deflections there were. We had a goal last night that changed direction off of a defender, but it was given to the kid that shot because it was going towards the goal the whole time. It's not like the ball was cleared off of a defender and in the net. This is a pointless argument, though, as you obviously had a better vantage point being there in person. I'm pretty sure we both understand the overall rule.
Well aware that if the ball goes into the net off the fingertips of the keepers hands that it is not an own goal. Were you at that game? The ball ricocheted (not grazed) off of a couple of players. It was like a pinball machine. It last deflected off a ND defender. Have you ever watched hockey? Players try to defend a shot on goal and sometimes unintentionally deflect it so fast that the goalie doesn't have time to react just like in soccer and if a defender just like in last thursday nights game trys to defend the ball but it goes off his body and into the goal its an own goal. Realizing the ND player did not do it intentionally. But hey give ND credit they did score a goal. Just in the wrong net.
No...in every level of competetive soccer I've played in from junior varsity to college, the person that last touches the ball is not credited with the goal. If a ball tips off of a keepers hand, is that an own goal? Nope. Baker's shot was deflected into the goal...it's not like he missed the goal by 10 yards and the ND player kicked it straight in the goal. It was a shot towards goal that was deflected. Own goals occur when it is blatantly obvious that the ball changes directions such as what happens when a corner kick is taken and an errant clearance is headed or kicked back into your own net.
A lot of fuss over a freshman. I believe there were 11 players on the field that all contributed. To set the record straight, Clay is the age of a sophomore. His parents chose to hold him back 10 years ago. They said for maturity reasons and for sports. I myself would never hold my kid back from starting kindergarten for sports. Clay is a great kid. I've known him since he was 4. I saw something in him when he started playing soccer in pre-K. He has developed into a great athlete, among many other great athletes that play for Cape, Jackson, and Notre-Dame. You see when the high school season is over, many High school kids play on club teams where kids from Cape, Jackson and Notre-Dame all play on the same team. If this years senior class had all of the kids that play on the same club soccer team go to the same high school, that high school soccer team would dominate all the other teams in SE MO. Then we might be able to compete against big city schools. Its great that the kids can feel so competitive against their own club team-mates. As for the ref keeping the game under control, I'd like to see any of you parents on the side-line who critique the refs calls do the job that the center ref did that night, or any other night Cape, Jackson or Notre-Dame play against each other. We are lucky to have JP as a ref in this area. He's the best in this region of the country. As for who scored the goal, learn the rules! The last person to touch the ball( Be it off his head,leg,chest or even his arm, provided his arm was down and it was'nt intentional, otherwise it would have been a PK) gets credit for the goal. Sorry, it was an own goal. However Clay did get the assist. Nice going. I hate going to a shootout. And as far as Soccer being a girls sport, I'ts the worlds most popular sport for men and women. Get to know other cultures. Don't be so narrow minded. Come out and watch the re-match Thursday night at ND, even if you do have to pay the highest admission in all of SE MO. I'm sure it will be worth the price of admission. ($3.00) And to the parents, lets show good sportsmanship.
Actually Brittany I talked to some nd players and they told me the picture editor apologized to Nick for saying that. How many times do I have to ask people to stop this. This all will affect the play of the game if people don't stop. I don't want one of my teamates or any of the Notre Dame players Hurt again.
I think Mr. Smith is just being dumb!!!!
The boy broke his arm from a fall. not from the Jackson Player!. and clay could have broken his arm just as well. adn if u read the post on the picture. it says it was the boys own fault!!.
Soccer 10- your just fueling the fire it's people like you on both sides that are going to get someone hurt. You have no idea what the game was like on the field. Yes we won and that's all you saw so it makes everything else okay. It was getting out of control and the injury put the icing on the cake. Please stop all of this or it could happen again to any player on the field. This is rediculous
Well it is obvious that redhawk wasn't at the game. It wasn't a dirty game. I wouldn't even say it was very physical. Yes there were some fouls but most of them were after that boy got hurt. LOOks like ND lost their composure and started playing dirty. And the rich crybabies should have been kicked out of the game.
I can't wait till thrusday. GO INDIANS!!!!! Show the big CRY BABIES what real soccer is about. If ND doesn't like hard play then maybe they should be on the debate team so there won't be any contact there.
jackson is trying to pull the sore loser card on notre dame? are you kidding me? every time i played against notre dame whether they won or lost they were very respectful. jackson must have played a dirty game in order for their fans to act otherwise. and as for the kid showing respect to the ref.. maybe if the ref hadnt let the game get out of control this injury wouldnt have happened. sure some injuries are fluke accidents... but it sounds like this could have been avoided. i would have cussed the whole nation if my bone was stickin out of my arm and my senior year season was ruined. jackson is not only sore losers but sore winners too.
Id like to make something clear. We will play as hard as we did Thursday. That doesn't necissarilly mean as rough.
wow if your stupid enough to say that goal was not clay bakers then you should learn alittle about the game of soccer... how can you say that goal was not his goal, he worked for that goal just like the rest of the team .. when games like this happen you better expect for there to be fouls. the boys play tough and thats excactly what the jackson team did , they played like they wanted it . and as you can tell they got wht they played for... clay is a FRESHMAN and he played up to much more than the freshman label gets, and as for the game Thursday night, you better expect Jackson is gonna come out and play as rough as they did the previous game , and win it like they deserve to, and if Notre Dame wants to play it back then go for it , but as you can see Jackson came out at that game ready to play and they will do the same this thursday ..
I believe you when you say that’s what you saw, but some parents have the moment on video. Ask around and someone will show you. As for his language, I am willing to give a guy with a bones sticking out of his arm a pass on his cussing or content….heck, he can cuss me out he wants.
Like I said, lets move on by encouraging and challenging the boys to play and behave the right way. In a way we can all be proud of. Not a win at all costs attitude. There are a lot of talented players on both teams. I hope we get to see the talent on Thursday night.
I'm not putting Jackson down, I really think the foul was on the ND boy, but either way, you may cuss but dont direct it towards the coach of jackson. This is the ultimate sign of disrespect. And this 1 play shouldn't define the rest of the game. Lets tell it like it is. ND felt the game slipping away and paniced, and this goes for the parents also, they are much of the problems as the coach was.
He is right. I saw the play and the nd player was undercut while in the air. Soccer is always taught to be played hard with hip checks, leaning hard on the opponent, speed, and power. I know that the Jackson player is a really nice young man, but a young man that made a poor choice in a split second heat of battle. All our kids are going to make bad choices at times so we just need to move on. Move on but remember that undercutting a person in mid air, coming in with cleats up, and going for ankles are things that have no part in good solid tough soccer. Those are bad choices that get kids hurt, players mad, parents mad and destroy the game. After that happened the game was essentially over. That’s when almost all the fouls started and all the yellow cards. There was very little strategy or game plan and the game was a mess to watch. Let’s hope all those young men will be reminded or learn that the sport of soccer has a respectful code of ethics and is a great game when played hard, aggressive, and fast but within right and wrong.
Soccer 10-- i know this may sound odd coming from me, and im not defending ND by any means but dont make us look any worse than we do. I can tell your opinion os biased. I was on the field and I know better than anyone else that we fouled nick. i have known him for a long time and i feel bad. and about his language you find me one person that wouldnt cuss when their bone is sticking out of their arm. im not trying to put my school or team at blame but i just need to tell it how it is.
I was at the game and your right NOTRE DAME ARE VERY POOR LOSERS. It was unfortunate that the boy broke his arm, but from my vantage point, I thought it should have been a foul on him. And his filthy dirty mouth, he should have been issued a red card and notre dame should have played short because of his disrespect for both the referee and jackson coaches. Maybe ND's coach should be more interested in his players disrespect towards the referee and less concerned about what everyone else is doing.
I thought the referee did an outstanding job, and if ND are such good sports then why did the referee have to issue 3 yellow cards and tell the parents to be quiet or leave. HMMMMM
And one more thing, it will probably happen again Thursday. We are coached to do whatever we have to to win. So notre dame needs to stop being a bunch of cry babies or just not show up Thursday.
oh and one more thing, we will do it again thursday if we have to. At Jackson we are coached ro do whatever we have to do to win.
Soccer is a contact sport. Fans and parents complaining about calls or rough play after the fact does not do anybody any good, and it makes you, and us, look bad. You don't win state titles without getting some breaks along the way, so chalk it up to experience and move on.
Okay im tired of all this. All of this has gotten out of hand and the truth needs to be told. We did what we had to do to win, we knew we were facing a tough team so we had to matters into our own hands. I feel bad for Nick, We never thought it would be that bad but we did what we had to do.
Ouch. That's gonna leave a mark!
Notre Dame Parents - You got beat. Accept the loss and try heading up to play real teams in STL instead of beating high schools that no one has ever heard of to win state titles. If Darnell only had 5 saves on the night then maybe they outplayed you.
Jackson- You DO have a reputation of playing dirty which can only come from the coaches. Quit crying recruitment. Even in victory you are sour.
Central-You have competition now from Jackson. Their PK victory over you wasn't a fluke. Darnell earned the win for the Indians.
Soccer Moms-Take a ***** chill pill. It's only a game.
M SMith you sound like a piece of crap to me! To bad your parents didn't teach you to be such a sore loser! Maybe you should show some respect and give it when its due! NORTE DAME LOST so quit crying about it.
Quit crying Notre Dame play soccer a girl's sport anyway. You recruit now give some recognition. You got beat. Now quit saying football in your posts.. you guys have no clue what a football looks like. That is the problem with rich, private schools they spoil there kids and make excuses. play the game, build some tough kids
As Clayton Bakers club soccer coach, I can tell you that he is one of the best overall players that I have coached in over 27 years of coaching. He is very unassuming and shys away from the spotlight that is easily cast upon him from his play. He can and has played every position for us. He does not play a dirty style of soccer. His play is fair, physical and strong. That is not to say if you cheap shot him that he wont "get you back", but his skill allows him to payback in other ways. The goal scored is clearly his. Many goals are scored on misdirections off of unsuspecting defenders.
Why cant the people on the Notre Dame side accept their loss and move on. On any given day, any team can win, and on that day, the Jackson boys were the best.
First of all Mr. Smith you sound like a cry baby parent
a-notre dame had 30 fouls jackson had 15
b-one of jackson's best players is out for 4-6 weeks
c-cape and notre dame are two of the dirtiest teams anyone plays. every game is rough its soccer
d-notre dame is in class 2 they dont get challenged to make it to state
e-notre dame had a majority of the yellow cards
f-Why are you talking about football? its a totally different sport
So why do you have room to talk bad about jackson soccer?
Man, I can't wait until next Thursday when Jackson plays ND again. That should be interesting.
Jackson soccer has great respect for it's coaches, players and supporters. We would never encourage poor sportsmanship. Perhaps, Mr. Smith, you have forgotten that it was Notre Dame players that were disrespectful to the refs, it was 3 Notre Dame players that were given yellow cards, although more were warrented, and finally it was Notre Dame PARENTS that were admonished by the refs for thier poor behavior. If the PARENTS poor behavior was not brought under control, they would be asked to leave the field. Isn't this the pot calling the kettle black?!
Soccer is a physical game. Sikeston played against Jackson Tuesday night and it was physical both ways. And, I saw nothing of bad sportsmanship from Jackson. I happen to know Coach Walton and don't think he condones what Mr. Smith is whining about. And, I just watched the replay of the goal. Any shot taken and deflected by a defender into the goal is given to the offensive player. It's not an own goal. So, Baker would be awarded the goal judging by how I saw the replay.
Quit crying, Mr. Smith.
You're doing nothing but embarrassing the boys.
Oh, our po' wittle boys! Those Jackson boys are so big, rough, and mean! And our boys are so wittle and helpless.
Shut your mouth.
mr.smith....They played basketball the same way last year..
Clayton Baker did not score... it was an own goal on a mis hit clearence.... he did not score...
Jackson soccer can win a thur night game in Oct because of an own goal, Jackson can play dirty UNDERCUTTING and TWISTING an opposing player who then BROKE HIS ARM, Jackson can play football on a futbol field (because they are coached to do so and the parents condone it)...if your not as fast as them, UNDERCUT THEM....if your not as talented, SLAM INTO THEM.
ND and Central play top level St.Louis soccer teams and they are always complemented on how well their boys behave. The soccer play coming out of Jackson right now reflects badly on all of Southeast Missouri. Jackson soccer can have their "highlight of their season" beating ND,......BUT JACKSON(soccer) WILL NEVER HAVE SPORTSMANSHIP, CLASS, or the RESPECT of the other teams in southeast Missouri(CENTRAL SOCCER plays at a high level and their boys have always had great sportsmanship). JACKSON WILL LIKELY NEVER...ACHIEVE CLASS, SPORTMANSHIP, OR A STATE TITLE PLAYING LIKE THAT! But they will win some random games and break a few bones along the way.....BUT THEY WILL NEVER BE WINNERS!
Way to be Jackson soccer....you’re almost what "THE" Jackson football team is.... EXCEPT THEY ARE TRUE CLASSY WINNERS!