Jackson routs rival Central

Overtime was not necessary to decide the winner of the Class 2 District 1 girls soccer championship game between rivals Central and Jackson this year.

After winning the last two district championships in overtime, Jackson decided to take care of business in regulation, and that it did. The Indians put an emphatic end to the Tigers' season with a 6-1 rout Wednesday at Jackson.

"It's a lot less stressful to come out and get a few-goal lead on them," Jackson coach Zack Walton said.

This was the fourth straight district title for the top-seeded Indians, who improved to 20-2. Jackson will host its first ever girls soccer sectional game on Tuesday.

"It's very meaningful," Walton said of his team's fourth straight title. "I think it says a lot for the program. It says a lot for the girls. Some have played in all four, and most in two or three of them. Hopefully the girls that are playing now will play in a few more."

Jackson started the game on the right foot, posting a goal less than three minutes into the game. Freshman Lauren Drewett hit a lofting shot over Central goalie Chelsea Burns, who had drifted off her line.

Central's lone bright spot in the game came at the 10-minute mark as senior Kate Miller tied the game at 1-1. Miller was able to blast a shot into an open net after Kylie Werner was caught out of position.

From that point on it was all Jackson, though, with three more goals coming before the half and two more in the second.

"They came back and kept the pressure on and had some opportunities then got one," Walton said of his team. "They didn't panic. They kept their heads up and kept playing."

The eventual game-winning goal summed up Central's day. With about 15 minutes left in the half Randi Kraust hit a long, low shot toward the net. The shot appeared to be headed wide or into Burns' hands, but took a carom off a Central defender and into the net.

Erin Curtis scored the next two goals for Jackson, both in the final 10 minutes of the half. Curtis' second goal came on a low shot which took a funny hop over a diving Burns.

"Good things happen to people that work hard," Central coach Tom Doyle said. "They out-worked us. I thought our effort was there, but our execution wasn't."

Chelsea Dale added a goal 15 minutes into the second half, and Kraust finished the scoring with just under 20 minutes remaining. Amanda Brown, Curtis, Hannah Kohm, Kraust and Molly Hartmann had assists.

"I thought the girls played really well," Walton said. "I thought the girls played good team ball, they passed the ball well. Molly was covered a lot, but distributed it to the right people when she had the ball."

Jackson dominated possession as Werner was hardly tested. Burns made several strong saves as she was kept busy in net for the Tigers.

Walton said Jackson's stingy defense usually is the catalyst for the offense.

"Possession starts in the backfield, that's the start of our offense," Walton said. "When they have the ball they're kind of like point guards in basketball. I thought our defense played well."

Central, seeded second, finished its season with a 13-8-1 record. The Tigers will bring back much of their nucleus from this season, with only three seniors on the roster.

"We did probably better than most people expected, as young as we are and with the girls we lost," Doyle said.

Jackson will now sets its sights on the winner of the Francis Howell-Lafayette district championship game in District 2. Jackson defeated Lafayette 1-0 in overtime of the I-55 Classic championship game this season.

"I think we have a chance to win that," Walton said. "We will play a team pretty comparable to us. I expect it to be a well fought game."