Jackson soccer collects 3-0 road win against Central

Jackson coach Julie Wunderlich looked for her midfielders, particularly Lauren Drewett and Jenni Tenholder, to generate some offense Tuesday against rival Central.

"Tonight Cape really put a lot back on defense and so we knew that our goals were going to have to come from the center-mids, Jenni and Lauren, because they had it packed in the 18," Wunderlich said. "We told them at halftime to stay calm, just do what we're doing, but just take their shots from out there, and we'll eventually score."

After a scoreless first half for both schools, Tenholder tallied one goal and Drewett netted two in the second half to lead the Indians to a 3-0 road victory.

It was the second time this season Jackson (13-2) posted a 3-0 victory over Central.

"I thought we had a really good game tonight," Drewett said. "We possessed the ball very well in the first half. Our main goal was just to keep the ball on the ground and just to wear them down a lot, which we did because in the second we scored three goals at them and they couldn't keep up with us."

Wunderlich really enjoys having Tenholder and Drewett together in the midfield because they work so well together.

Tenholder has signed to play soccer next year at Southwest Baptist, while Drewett has signed to play at Quincy. The two have played with each other for many years, so Tenholder said she and Drewett hardly talk with each other when playing the same midfield.

"I kind of don't have to talk to her," Tenholder said. "I just kind of know what she's going to do and it sometimes doesn't have to be verbal. I kind of read her body and what she's doing. ... I'm friends with her and that kind of helps, too."

Jackson junior Megan Davidson said about the two senior midfielders: "They are both amazing players. They dribble the ball well, they turn well with the ball, they talk with everyone. They're just amazing."

Tenholder has had some pain in her knee as she has been dealing with patella femoral syndrome since last summer, sometimes making it hard for her to cut and play defense. It was bothering her again Tuesday, but she continued to play through it and showed no sign of any injury.

Tenholder scored the first goal of the contest about seven minutes into the second half. She scored it from about 40 feet out, rifling it off her right foot past Central goalie Meg Goodman.

"It was our last game on this field and we know a lot of the girls," Tenholder said. "I just wanted to kind of play hard and have fun."

Drewett gave her team a 2-0 advantage with a goal about halfway through the second half. She then added her second of the game with about 16 minutes remaining to put the Indians ahead 3-0.

"It's always great to beat them," Drewett said. "It also shows us what we have to do to keep progressing throughout our season as well as what we have to do if we face them again."

Davidson added about the Indians' defensive effort: "The defense just stayed spread out. They just passed a lot. We worked around the back to the opposite side and switched fields really well tonight. ... We get pumped up, especially for Notre Dame and Cape."

Central coach Tom Doyle said his team gave a strong effort.

"Both times we've played them this year we've played a good first half," Doyle said. "That was a super first goal they had from 40 yards out. And then the second goal and third goal they just beat us one-on-one and got a good shot. Part of that is that you've got to do a little bit tighter marking so they don't get as good a quality shot. But overall I wasn't upset with the way we played.

"It's hard to beat a good team three times. I'm saying we're a good team. I think if we play them again, 3-0, 3-0, next time we play them I don't think it will be 3-0."