Notre Dame reserve nails title winner vs. Jackson at SoccerFest

~ Notre Dame defeated Jackson on penalty kicks in the SoccerFest title game

Notre Dame junior Philip Schuchard has been staying after practice this season to work on penalty kicks for one opportunity.

That opportunity presented itself Saturday.

And the small but mighty Schuchard made the most of it.

Schuchard drilled the seventh penalty kick for Notre Dame, sending the team into a celebratory dog pile as it knocked off Jackson 1-0 on penalty kicks to capture the Notre Dame SoccerFest championship.

Notre Dame's James Diveley, left, and Jackson's Nick Rangel battle for the ball during the first half of Saturday's Notre Dame SoccerFest title game. (Kristin Eberts)

The Bulldogs (3-1) won the penalty kicks 6-5.

"I wasn't really nervous," Schuchard said. "I've been staying after practice to practice penalty kicks, so going up there I was pretty confident."

The confidence was evident as the junior buried one high and left to cap a wild final.

"It feels pretty good," Schuchard said. "It was definitely one of the best moments of my soccer career."

The game-winning goal was set up by a diving save from Bulldogs goalkeeper James Holloway.

Jackson's Zack Taylor passes the ball as Notre Dame's James Diveley defends during the first half of the final game of Notre Dame SoccerFest on Saturday, September 4, 2010, at Notre Dame High School in Cape Girardeau. Notre Dame defeated Jackson 1-0 on penalty kicks. (Kristin Eberts)

"I was incredibly excited," Holloway said after his save. "I had a feeling Phil was going to hit it in. After that last block, I was excited."

Schuchard was quick to sing his goalie's praises.

"James is probably one of the best, if not the best, in Southeast Missouri," Schuchard said. "We are lucky to have him."

After two halves and two sudden-death overtimes of scoreless soccer, both teams performed well in the penalty kicks.

Holloway saved Jackson's first attempt and Notre Dame capitalized with a goal by Jonathan Lynch.

Notre Dame's Jonathon Clements looks to pass as Jackson's Clayton Baker defends during the first half of Saturday's Notre Dame SoccerFest championship game. (Kristin Eberts)

The Indians' Hunter Garrison then buried a shot to tie it at 1-1 before Tyler Buelow answered for Notre Dame.

Jackson's Ryan Schlick countered with a goal, and Jackson goalkeeper Austin Baker made a diving save to keep the score tied at 2-2.

The teams traded three straight penalty kicks before Holloway's save and Schuchard's goal.

"Notre Dame came out and played hard the whole game," Jackson coach Zack Walton said. "We did well in PKs. Usually when you make four out of five PKs, you win. Both teams' PKs were well-taken. Unfortunately we didn't win."

Notre Dame coach Brad Wittenborn had no problem picking Schuchard, a smaller, scrappier forward reserve for the Bulldogs, to take the potential game-winner.

"Philip has worked so hard on his game," Wittenborn said. "He played club soccer over the summer. He's not real big, but he has a great heart. He wanted to be out there. And that's what I looked at. You look in the kid's eyes and see if they want it, and confidence played a big part. I'm really tickled for him. No one worked harder to get better than Philip."

The teams battled in the opening 100 minutes, with both defenses thwarting chances for the opposition.

Jackson nearly struck in the 21st minute when Clayton Baker ripped a shot from 20 yards out that sailed high and wide. A minute later, Holloway made a nice punch save on a dangerous free kick from the Indians.

The Indians' best chance came with just more than 10 minutes left in the first half.

Law Duncan beat two Bulldogs defenders down the end line before finding Zack Taylor open in the box, but Taylor's strike on net was caught by a diving Holloway.

"Game wise we just didn't finish our opportunities in front of the net," Walton said. "Their keeper made some big saves. He made one outstanding play and a couple of others."

Jackson's defense held strong as well, stopping several Notre Dame chances in front of the net.

Holloway noticed.

"Our defense this year has been amazing," the senior said. "They do work and move as a unit, but Jackson's defense played really good, obviously. We didn't score."

In the fifth-place game, Central defeated Saxony Lutheran 2-1.