Jackson girls soccer team remains perfect

~ The Indians improved to 9-0 with a 3-0 victory over Notre Dame

The way the Jackson girls soccer team has handled its opponents so far this season, it's almost scary to think what could happen if the Indians ever get where their coach wants them to be.

Jackson parlayed a dominating midfield game with an aggressive offense to blank host Notre Dame 3-0 on a chilly Monday night, getting two goals from freshman Cassidi Tomsu and a seven-save shutout from sophomore goalkeeper Sarah Blanton to improve to 9-0 on the season.

"I like what we're doing, but obviously, we can still improve on some things," Jackson coach Justin McMullen said. "Overall tonight, I thought we had a pretty good game. Our effort was outstanding, and once again our defense led the way."

Forgive McMullen his modesty, as it's every coach's job to keep his players on an even keel during a win streak. But it's hard to envision the Indians playing much better than they are after cruising to the Cape Optimist Tournament title a little more than a week ago.

"Each game we're just trying to get a little bit better, and that's what I'm seeing right now," McMullen said. "We're starting to be able to read each other, and that's how we're getting open and have more opportunities as time goes on.

"It won't always be like this though," he added with a chuckle.

Tomsu got the Indians started in the 13th minute, taking a pass ahead from Mollie Crader near the left sideline, juking past a defender and cranking a left-footed laser that Notre Dame keeper Madison Buelow could only watch catch the upper cross corner of the goal.

Then, just 1:51 before halftime, Tomsu struck again. Teammate Jordan Myer ran down a crossing pass on the right side, turned and crossed back to Tomsu in front of the goal, who spun and one-timed a shot into the net.

"Each day, our team is getting better," Tomsu said. "We get open, so we take advantage of that. Sara [Thompson] and I worked great together tonight, so we took advantage of that."

Tomsu and Thompson teamed up for the game's final goal less than two minutes into the second half. Junior midfielder Hailey Mouser made a run down the middle before passing to Tomsu, who touched the ball to Thompson on the right side. Thompson was able to arch a shot over Buelow that settled into the corner of the net.

"It just kind of bounced around a little bit," Thompson said, "and it somehow got out to me, and I just lofted it in. I don't even know how it went in."

Jackson continued the pressure with Tomsu hitting the crossbar in the 45th minute and Buelow making spectacular saves on shots from both Tomsu and Myer at point blank range following a corner kick in the 49th minute of the second half.

Notre Dame's best chance at a goal came early in the second half when junior Kaitlin Welter lofted a free kick from 35 yards straight out that the Bulldogs' sophomore Mackenzie McDaniel deflected with a nice header, but Blanton was able to make the save and preserve the shutout.

"We had to do a lot of adjustment," Notre Dame coach Jeff Worley said. "They do a really good job of mixing up their attack. ... It took us a little while to work on picking up the players that were coming out of the midfield. That was really where they hurt us at, where they were able to carry the ball forward into a lot of space."

Jackson's dominance showed in the scorebook as the Indians totaled 26 shots to just eight for the Bulldogs.

"It's really outstanding what the midfielders are doing, and it's allowing the defenders to not have to work as hard," McMullen said. "When it does get back there, the defenders are doing a great job. But the midfield has been very, very good for us this year."

And when the midfielders win their battles, the forwards benefit.

"We've started playing a lot better together and connecting our passes more in the middle really well," Thompson said. "We're all just playing well as a team and letting everybody get their chance at a shot."

* JV: Jackson won 2-1.