Jackson, ND face sectional tests

During the Jackson Indians' four-year reign as girls soccer district champions, they have racked up a combined record of 79-11-2.

While regular season success has been plentiful, Jackson has not been able to translate that into success in the state playoffs. Jackson has just one win in its three sectional games, with that being a 3-2 quadruple overtime win over Francis Howell Central in 2003. The Indians fell in the quarterfinals that year. Of course, one of those sectional losses came last year to girls soccer power Nerinx Hall.

With a 20-2 record and momentum on its side, Jackson will try to start its run for a first state final four berth today at 5:30 p.m. when the Indians host Francis Howell (21-3-1) in a Class 2 sectional game.

"When you play the No. 1 powerhouse school right off the bat, that makes it tough for you," Jackson coach Zack Walton said of last year. "This year it won't be a powerhouse school right off the bat."

The game will match two teams that feature a similar balance of powerful offenses and stingy defenses. Howell, ranked 10th in the Missouri Soccer Coaches poll, has scored 79 goals and allowed just 14. Jackson, ranked 14th, has scored 107 goals, including a combined 13 goals in its two district playoff wins, and allowed just 14 goals.

"If we come out and play well we have a chance to beat them," Walton said. "They are a very talented team. They play similar to the way we do."

Both teams feature an offensive catalyst. Jackson is led by senior Molly Hartmann, who has climbed to No. 3 on the state's career goals list with 29 goals this season. She's also assited on 20 goals this year.

Howell has its own senior offensive star. Nikki Llewellyn leads the Vikings with 31 goals and 13 assists. In goal, Emily Armstrong has logged every minute for Howell, with 16 shutouts.

Walton said Jackson's offense is tough to defend because there are a lot of talented options to complement Hartmann.

"There's a lot of girls out there that can score," he said.

The winner of today's sectional will move on to the quarterfinals on Saturday at the Anheuser-Busch Center, where they will face either Ursuline Academy (22-1-2) or Incarnate Word (19-4-4).

"We've just got to take one game at a time," Walton said. "We can't look at who we play next. We have to play our best to come out."

Notre Dame faces St. Pius

At Notre Dame, things have come full circle for the Bulldogs as they will host St. Pius at 7 p.m. in a Class 1 sectional, which is a rematch from the season opener for both teams. St. Pius defeated Notre Dame 3-0 in that meeting.

The Lancers, ranked No. 1 in the Missouri Soccer Coaches Association Class 1 state poll, are 20-1 heading into tonight's game, with their only loss coming to Class 2 power Ursuline.

"We're ready for another opportunity to play them and another opportunity to move on in the playoffs," Notre Dame coach Jeff Worley said. "It should be a heck of a game. They're No. 1 in the state and have lost only once."

At 14-9-3, the Bulldogs will enter the game as heavy underdogs. Notre Dame -- which has made it to the state final four the past two seasons -- has been playing well of late. The Bulldogs won their district as a No. 3 seed with the help of a pair of shutouts.

Worley said a key will be to just go out and play Notre Dame's style of soccer.

"You want to be excited and not be afraid to fail," he said. "If you're going to go down, go down playing your best."

Notre Dame will have its hands full with the high-powered Lancers. St. Pius is led offensively by Breanna Cashel, who has a team-high 32 goals. Defensively, the Lancers have allowed just eight goals all season, with three coming in their only loss.

The Bulldogs defeated St. Pius in the sectional round the past two season on their way to the semifinals.

"We have all the respect in the world for what they do," Worley said of St. Pius. "We just want to go out playing our best soccer, and hopefully we'll get a couple of bounces our way."