Jackson soccer team strikes before storm

~ The Indians defeated Notre Dame 1-0 in a soccer game halted at halftime

Jackson High School soccer player Keagan Cavanah misfired on a golden opportunity midway through the first half at Notre Dame Wednesday night.

Cavanah wasn't about to let another big chance slip away. The senior scored with 2 minutes, 59 seconds remaining before halftime.

"I had to make up for missing that shot earlier," Cavanah said.

Cavanah's goal stood up as the game-winner when the second half was cancelled due to a severe storm that featured monsoon-like rain and lightning.

Jackson’s Nic Stone, left, Braxton McDowell and Keagan Cavanah celebrate after Cavanah scored late in the first half of the Indians’ 1-0 win over the Bulldogs at Notre Dame Wednesday, October 17. The game was called due to weather at the half. (ADAM VOGLER)

The Indians' 1-0 victory avenged an Oct. 3 game in Jackson that saw Notre Dame prevail in a penalty-kick shootout after neither side scored during regulation and overtime.

"It's nice to beat them after they got us last time," Cavanah said.

Jackson improved to 7-10-1, while Notre Dame fell to 14-6.

"We had a few really good opportunities, and I thought our defense did pretty decent," Jackson coach Zack Walton said. "You never know what the second half would bring. We were fortunate to score right before the half."

The Indians had two exceptional chances in the first 20 minutes but were denied both times.

Jackson's Blake Kingree drives past Notre Dame's Kenrick Niedbalski during the Indians' 1-0 win over the Bulldogs at Notre Dame Wednesday, October 17. The game was called due to weather at the half. (ADAM VOGLER)

Senior Blake Kingree's point-blank shot just five minutes into the contest was turned away on a diving save by Notre Dame sophomore keeper Thomas Himmelberg.

About 15 minutes later the Bulldogs misplayed a ball in front of their goal that gave Cavanah a great chance, but he fired wide.

Notre Dame's best opportunity came with about 10 minutes remaining before halftime when Jackson senior keeper Ben Johnston made a diving stop of a shot by senior Matthew Parsons.

With heavy rain falling and with the prospects of a shortened game seeming fairly likely, the Indians finally broke through.

Junior Trey Wadley kicked a ball from about midfield that took a high bounce over Notre Dame's defense.

Cavanah was all alone to the right of the goal. His shot beat Himmelberg in the lower left corner.

"I saw [Himmelberg] came out and he had his weight going one way," Cavanah said. "I just put it by him."

Cavanah was pleased to win but assumed the Bulldogs would have put up a strong fight in the second half.

"They're a really good team, but I thought we played well. We had a lot of good chances," he said.

Notre Dame coach Brad Wittenborn credited the Indians for a strong performance but came away disappointed with the way his squad performed.

"We were really flat. We're better than that," Wittenborn said. "They played with some energy, a litle more energy than we showed."

Wittenborn said it was best for everybody involved to not play the second half when lightning lit up the sky just moments after the opening half ended.

"It was the smart thing to do," he said. "We could have waited around for about three hours and probably not even been able to play then."

Despite the loss on senior night, Wittenborn is pleased with the type of season the Bulldogs are having. They still have a few games remaining, as do the Indians, before beginning district tournament play.

"We've won some big games and we still have a lot of soccer left," Wittenborn said.