Indians' defense solid in 3-0 win over Pirates

The Jackson Indians have yet to allow a goal this season, outscoring opponents 20-0.

The Indians' defense proved to be solid once again Tuesday night.

Jackson (4-0) posted its fourth straight shutout with a 3-0 victory over visiting Perryville.

"Our defense is very strong," Jackson co-coach Justin McMullin said. "They did a very good job covering each other tonight. Kylie Seyer and Kelsey Bierman are in the middle back there and they do a good job."

The Indians' defense had to fight against a gusty wind in the first half as Perryville applied pressure.

It didn't seem to faze Jackson as the Indians denied every serious opportunity the Pirates (2-2) mustered.

"We cover each other really well," Seyer said. "We still have a lot to work on though, especially after this game."

McMullin admitted his team came out sluggish after defeating Notre Dame on Monday night, but the scoreboard didn't indicate it.

While battling the wind in the opening half, Seyer found herself up field and buried a shot from just outside the 18-yard box seven minutes into the game.

"I came up for a run," Seyer said. "I saw [a Pirates defender] coming at me and just shot it."

It was the lone mistake the Pirates' defense made in the first half.

Perryville goalie Natalie Bauwens made big save after big save to keep the score close.

"You have to give credit to anybody that scores," Perryville coach Stacie Sargent said. "But Natalie Bauwens has been solid all season. She came out and challenged Jackson's [Kasey Crowden] in the first half and won that battle. She really stepped up. In the Notre Dame game she played well and kept us in there. The girls know, they recognize how hard she's working."

Perryville threatened multiple times off corner kicks in the first half.

A loose ball in the box off a Pirates corner kick sailed high and wide 15 minutes into the opening half. Several minutes later the Pirates missed another opportunity on a corner.

"We only had a couple opportunities in the first half," Sargent said. "They weren't the quality opportunities we wanted. But I thought we did a good job controlling the middle."

McMullin added: "I think we had trouble getting going again coming off a big win [Monday] night. We knew they were going to try and play over the top in the first half. We had our defenders drop off a little. Our defense was outstanding."

The Indians gave Bauwens all she could handle.

Jackson's Alex Sotak danced down the left sideline before making a move to the center of the box and firing a shot wide right.

Still in the first half, Kasey Crowden attempted to side-step Bauwens on a breakaway, but the Pirates' keeper made a diving save.

Jackson capitalized early in the second.

Erin Eakens used a flip throw-in to sail a ball into the heart of Perryville's box. The ball bounced a few times before the Indians' Hannah Roach knocked it in to give Jackson a more comfortable 2-0 lead.

"It was a really good throw," Roach said. "I went toward it and kind of jumped into it. There was no coordination at all. It just trickled past the goalie.

"It definitely makes you feel more comfortable than a 1-0 lead."

The Pirates had a golden opportunity with 20 minutes remaining in the second half, but Jackson keeper Morgan Riddick stopped Perryville's Megan Moldenhauer at point-blank range to squash the threat.

The Pirates managed little else on the offensive end as Jackson continued to control play.

"They are awesome," Roach said of the Indians' defense. "We have a strong defense. They've been there all year. We can't win without them."

Jackson took a 3-0 lead late in the game when Hailey Callis fed Crowden at the 6-yard spot for an easy goal.