Notre Dame settles for tie with Jackson

~ The Bulldogs improved on their previous encounter with the Indians.

Notre Dame coach Jeff Worley felt his team was held in check in a 2-0 loss to Jackson on April 2.

The loss was the last the Bulldogs have suffered, as Notre Dame rode a four-game winning streak into Tuesday's game at Jackson. Notre Dame more than made up for its previous poor showing against Jackson, dominating the play through much of the second half and overtime.

Despite numerous scoring chances over the final 60 minutes, Notre Dame had to settle for a 1-1 tie.

"I don't feel too cheated," Worley said. "Jackson had chances they could have put away and won the game. My big focus for us was to come out and play with confidence.

"The first time we played, we lost 2-0 and we really couldn't get anything goingagainst them. Tonight we really made them defend. I wanted to see us come out with confidence playing a good team and we did that."

All the scoring was done in the opening half. Jackson got on the board first on a goal credited to Bobbi Jo Schlick. Schlick was active up top throughout the game for the Indians.

Notre Dame (9-2-1) was able to answer, getting a goal from Amanda Pleimann. Paige Schumer picked up the assist on a cross.

Jackson, already down three players due to injury, lost another in the second half when Jenni Tenholder and Notre Dame defender Molly Proffer banged heads. Both players got up slowly following the collision.

The Bulldogs continued to substitute throughout the game and simply wore down the short-handed Indians. Notre Dame had as many as six quality scoring chances in the second half, most coming off the play of forward Mindy Siebert on the wing and Meridith Medlin up top.

"We try to keep a rotation, but we had Destiny Dirnberger out with a broken hand so we were trying to sort out how we do our rotation," Worley said. "The girls handled it really well. Claire Goodson, one of our seniors, gave us a lift in the second half.

"I thought Mindy Siebert played about as well as I've seen her play to help fill the void [of Dirnberger]. That's about as explosive as I've seen her, and against a good team."

Despite the constant pressure of Notre Dame, and the obvious fatigue of Jackson's players, the Indians were able to stay in the game. Schlick nearly gave the Indians the win just before regulation, but her shot went wide. Jackson (7-1-1) had about three dangerous chances in the second half, and made Notre Dame goalie Claudia Brauss touch the ball throughout the second half.

Jackson's defense has now allowed just two goals in nine games.

"Even when we're injured and not playing well, the defense still did the job," Jackson coach Zack Walton said.