Jackson girls soccer hands Notre Dame first loss

JACKSON — Kasey Crowden knew she and her Jackson team would have to give a complete team effort Monday to hand Notre Dame its first loss.

Crowden and the other Indians players were reminded of this before the game. Their coach, Julie Wunderlich, told them she didn't want to see just one or two players step up, but instead was looking for everyone to shine.

Jackson put together a strong team effort. Five different players scored, including Crowden, who tallied the first goal to give her team early momentum it would never lose. The Indians went on to beat the Bulldogs 5-1.

Crowden now has scored a goal in each of her last four games.

"We really wanted to beat them," Crowden said. "It was really exciting. We worked as a team really good together. We passed the ball around and got some goals in."

Jackson improved to 11-1, while Notre Dame dropped to 9-1.

The game originally was to be played March 31, but it was rescheduled due to rain. The Indians and Bulldogs again will meet tonight at 7 p.m. at Notre Dame.

Wunderlich was happy with the team effort and glad to see Crowden remain on fire offensively.

"They came out ready to play," Wunderlich said. "And they played off each other. They talked, they did everything right tonight.

"[Crowden] has been playing well. She may be a freshman, but obviously on the field she doesn't play like a freshman. And she's really stepped it up for us. She has a couple game-winning goals for us and she got the first goal here tonight for us, which that sets the momentum."

Crowden fired her goal in using her right foot, getting it past Notre Dame keeper Shelley Frank.

Crowden has had some strong games lately, including scoring her team's lone goal April 17 in a 1-0 win over Poplar Bluff.

"It's really exciting," Crowden said about playing on varsity. "I get a lot of encouragement from the older girls. They really help me out and stuff. We're really good together. We all connect on the field. They are all amazing players."

Jackson junior Emily Thompson added about Crowden: "She's the real deal. Kasey is going to do very well in her soccer career. She holds her own. You can't even tell that she's a freshman out there."

Jackson led 2-0 at halftime, receiving its other first-half goal from Sam Watson.

The Indians received second-half goals from Jenni Tenholder, Emily Dietl and Bobbi Jo Schlick while Notre Dame's lone goal was scored by Alyssa Ruopp.

Morgan Riddick was in net for Jackson. She made about four saves, Wunderlich said.

Notre Dame Jeff Worley said his team must cut down on its mistakes in today's rematch.

"We misplayed some balls," Worley said. "It seemed like every time we misplayed one, they were there to capitalize on it. That was pretty much it in a nutshell. ... Today a lot of those mistakes they made us pay for them. A good team will do that."

Wunderlich said Notre Dame will be ready tonight and her girls must give another strong team effort.

"This game is over," she said. "Notre Dame's going to be out for revenge tomorrow and it's going to be a tough game if our girls don't come out ready to play."