Jackson girls soccer team peppers Central in dominating 4-0 victory

~ The Indians outshot the rival Tigers 35-2

The Jackson girls soccer team turned in a dominant performance to roll past one of its Cape Girardeau County rivals.

Credit Central senior goalkeeper Apple Thomas for making sure the score didn't get out of hand.

Thomas was her usual acrobatic self with 19 saves, including a handful of dazzling stops, during the host Indians' 4-0 victory Tuesday night.

"She made some great saves," Jackson co-coach Justin McMullen said. "I thought she kept them in the game."

Central goalkeeper Apple Thomas makes a save on a Jackson shot during the first half Tuesday in Jackson. (ADAM VOGLER)

Jackson controlled the ball in Central's end of the field for at least 70 of the contest's 80 minutes.

The Indians outshot the Tigers 35-2, with neither of Central's attempts coming close to finding the net.

"She's very good," Central coach Dan Martin said about Thomas. "Without her, it could have been 10-0."

Jackson (3-0) has not yet been threatened. It's outscored its three opponents 23-0.

It looked like the Indians were headed toward another blowout when they scored just 1 minute, 51 seconds into Tuesday's game.

ABOVE: Jackson senior Erin Eakens, left, and Central senior Maria Popp battle for possession during the first half.LEFT: Jackson senior Hailey Mouser moves downfield with the ball during the first half.More photos can be viewed online at semoball.com.

Senior Victoria Smith pounced on the rebound of her original shot, which Thomas had stopped, for a quick 1-0 lead. Junior Mollie Crader earned an assist after feeding Smith.

"I felt we played good as a team, but she [Thomas] had a lot of good stops," Smith said. "They played a competitive game against us."

Central threatened to enter the intermission behind just 1-0 behind Thomas and its defense.

But Jackson broke through again with only 21 seconds left.

Senior Erin Eakins, who turned 18 on Tuesday, deflected in a long pass from junior Danielle Daume.

Jackson senior Hailey Mouser races down the field during the first half of the Indians' 4-0 win over the Cape Central Tigers Tuesday. (ADAM VOGLER)

"I didn't really expect it," Eakins said about the goal. "Danielle Daume made a really good pass, and I just followed it in."

McMullen felt a lot better ahead 2-0 at the break.

"It was good to get that goal at the end of the half," he said.

Sophomore Hailey Mouser made it 3-0 less than 12 minutes into the second half. Sophomore Alexa Kelpe earned an assist.

Jackson rounded out the scoring less than six minutes later on a goal by junior Jordan Myer with an assist by Mouser.

"Our passing was really good in the second half," Smith said.

Jackson freshman keeper Sarah Blanton only had to make one save, a routine stop on a long shot, but McMullen liked the way she handles herself around the net.

"She's been working hard," he said.

McMullen has been pleased with the start to the season for a squad that has just two seniors and is without its top player.

Junior Alex Sotak, an all-stater as a sophomore last year, will miss the season after suffering a torn ACL in December while playing with her club team in Florida.

"I think we've played pretty well so far, but we have a long way to go," McMullen said.

Smith said the Indians take plenty of satisfaction in beating one of their traditional rivals even though Central has struggled the past few years.

"It's nice to come away with a win against a rival," Smith said.

The Tigers (0-4) remained winless, but Martin said he has seen steady progress during his first season with the team.

"For our girls, we're still trying to do the small steps," said Martin, who has been Central's boys coach the past few years before taking over both programs. "Once you're under a new coach, a new system, a new style, there's a big learning curve.

"I'm extremely happy. They've done everything I've asked them to do. Each game we're getting better."

McMullen said he has noticed the Tigers'

improvement.

"I feel like their new coach is leading them in the right direction," he said.