Jackson downs Oakville to win C4D1 soccer title

A pair of second-half goals proved to be the difference in the Jackson Indians’ 2-1 win over the Oakville Tigers in the Class 4 District 1 championship game on Thursday.

Thursday's win marked the sixth-straight district title for the Indians.

“You just can’t put that into words,” Jackson coach Justin McMullen said. “It speaks volumes of the players that have been here. I’ve been very blessed to have some good coaches.”

Jackson opened the scoring in the 50th minute when Justi Nelson sent a ball into the box on a corner kick and Maya Domian headed the ball in to make it 1-0.

“That’s the time when the adrenaline’s pumping,” Nelson said. “The girls in our box are great in the air and I just trust them so much. I know whenever I get the ball in there someone is going to get a head on it.”

Just three minutes later, Justi Nelson would strike with what would prove to be the eventual game-winner to push the Jackson lead to 2-0.

“She’s been a part of some special teams,” McMullen said. “Her senior year she wanted to make sure she kept her stamp on this program and she did so tonight.”

McMullen liked the intensity he saw from his team from the opening minute.

“We played a very physical style tonight,” McMullen said. “We wanted to come out and be the aggressor tonight. Earlier in the year that’s something we tried to focus on and as of late I wasn’t pleased with that.”

First-year goalkeeper Camryn Alsdorf was massive for the Indians in goal in the win.

“Cam has been really good for us,” McMullen said. “She’s gaining confidence as the year goes and our kids around her have been really good to her. But, Cam has been really good for us. In a game like this where she’s got to make some big saves, she rose to the occasion.”

Oakville would strike late in the second half with just under two minutes remaining to cut the lead in half, but the Indians would prevail 2-1.

Jackson (18-1) will host the Class 4 State quarterfinals at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 27, when the Indians take on Nerinx Hall in Jackson.

Nerinx Hall ended Jackson’s season a year ago in the quarterfinals of the Class 4 Tournament.

“We’re excited to see Nerinx Hall again,” McMullen said. “It’s a rematch from last year at their place and we get them at our place. We’ll be excited and ramped up and ready to go for them.”

Nelson credited the crowd for giving the Indians a boost in Thursday’s win and she’s excited to see the turnout for the quarterfinal game.

“I can’t wait for it,” Nelson said. “I’m excited for our underclassmen to see how crazy our town can get and how much support comes from Jackson.”