Jackson soccer team mercy-rules Marion to claim tournament title

In her first season with the Jackson girls soccer team, senior Jordan Nelson isn't having any trouble fitting in.

With the help of junior Cassidi Tomsu, who has become Nelson's friend on and off the field, the duo is making the Indians' offense click just four games into the season.

Led by Nelson and Tomsu, top-seeded Jackson cruised to a 10-0 mercy-rule victory over No. 3 Marion, Illinois, in the Noon Optimist Club Tournament championship on Saturday at Central.

"As soon as I moved to Jackson, we clicked," Nelson said about her friendship with Tomsu. "We became best friends, and obviously best friends on the soccer field if you couldn't see that already. We know each other. We can read each other, so we know what we're going to do once we get out there. And if you have someone like that on the field, you are going to be unstoppable."

Tomsu finished with a game-high four goals, all of which were assisted by Nelson, who finished with six assists in the win.

Jackson's Nikki Sotak heads the ball in for a goal in the second half of the Indians championship game against Marion, Saturday, March 28, 2015, during the Noon Optimist Club Tournament in Cape Girardeau. Jackson won 10-0. (Laura Simon)

"For our season just to be this early and we're already working together really well is a big deal," Tomsu said. "Jordan and I had played for the same club up in St. Louis together, and we got to know each other really well. And I don't know, it's just something between us. We get things going. I wish I could do the same back to her and get her some goals, but she's really good at assisting."

Nelson, the reigning Semoball Awards player of the year who suited up for Notre Dame last year, and Tomsu both play for Elite Clubs National League in St. Louis but have never played on the same team. However, the pair has spent countless hours together carpooling to tournaments on the weekends, which has made their friendship blossom.

"I always wanted to play on the same team as her but never got the opportunity," Nelson said. "We still saw see each other all the time. Two hours up and two hours back in the car. You spend that much time with someone in the car and you really get to know them."

The best part for Nelson and Tomsu is that their success on the field won't end when Nelson graduates at the end of the season. Nelson has already signed to play for her parents at Southeast Missouri State University next season and Tomsu, who has committed to the Redhawks but not yet signed, plans to follow in her footsteps when she wraps up her high school playing career next season.

"It's awesome knowing I'll be able to play with my best friend for my senior year," Nelson said. "But then going on to SEMO and playing with her for another four years is great. Our future is going to be bright together."

Jackson's Lauren Welker, right, goes up against Marion's Autumn Graves in the first half of the Indians championship game against the Wildcats, Saturday, March 28, 2015, during the Noon Optimist Club Tournament in Cape Girardeau. Jackson won 10-0. (Laura Simon)

Nelson and Tomsu wasted little time helping the Indians get a lead on Saturday.

Eight minutes into the game, Nelson settled a pass on the far left side of the field before dribbling it into the box, eluding two defenders and sending a pass to Tomsu, who was waiting to the right of the box. Tomsu corralled the pass and dribbled once before rifling it past Marion goalie Madeline Pool.

"I told her she has really good footwork in the box and I said, 'I'm really jealous of that. I wish I could get like that,'" Tomsu said with a laugh. "But hey, she's good at it and it creates more scoring chances for us."

Jackson got a goal a piece from freshman Lauren Welker and senior Rachel Crites before Nelson dribbled down the right side of the field and found Tomsu in the box again. The forward finished with a blast in the top right corner to give the Indians a 4-0 lead at halftime.

"I certainly think they're starting to get a feel for each other," Jackson coach Justin McMullen said about Nelson and Tomsu. "But it's good to see all the girls getting involved in the action as well. We're just looking to play off of each other, trying to be a little more fluent in our attack, and I think we saw that today."

Jackson's Cassidi Tomsu heads the ball over Marion's Grace Ziehm in the first half of the Indians championship game against the Wildcats, Saturday, March 28, 2015, during the Noon Optimist Club Tournament in Cape Girardeau. Jackson won 10-0. (Laura Simon)

Jackson went on to score six second-half goals, including back-to-back goals from Tomsu to start the second half.

Crites added her second goal of the game with 22 minutes, 28 seconds remaining, followed by junior Megan Puhls and sophomore Nikki Sotak, who each added one. Junior defender Madison Yamnitz's shot from 25 yards out with eight minutes, 46 seconds capped the Indian's scoring and ended the game.

"It's the best feeling when you can walk on the field and know that anyone on the field can score," Nelson said. "I don't think I've had that on many teams I've played for. From our defensive line, our center backs all the way to our forwards, anyone on the field can get a good touch and knock it into the back of the goal."

Jackson out-shot Marion 15-2 and did not allow the Wildcats a shot on goal until the second half.

"We've worked hard on the defensive end," McMullen said. "That's been certainly one of the things that we focused on at the beginning of the season. (Assistant) coach (Caleb) Beussink has done a really good job with our defense and having them organized. So we're real happy with where we're at defensively, but certainly have a lot of work to do overall."