Sizzling Jackson soccer team records 10-0 win against Central

The Jackson girls soccer team has been on a tear this season.

District rival Central served as the Indians' latest victim.

Jackson showed its dominance by trouncing the visiting Tigers 10-0 on Tuesday night.

"We're just trying to take it one game at a time and trying to build up," Jackson co-coach Justin McMullen said. "We want to be right there at the end, but at the same time, you never overlook anybody. That's what we talk about before every game no matter who we're playing, and I think we're doing a pretty good job of that so far."

Jackson (13-1) has used speed, solid defense and a strategic attack that spreads the field and works the ball to dominate play thus far.

Jackson's Kasey Crowden (2), Mollie Crader, center, and Jordan Myer celebrate a goal during the first half as Central's Taylor Welker looks on Tuesday in Jackson. (Laura Simon)

The main key so far has been communication, something McMullen admits to having worked hard on in practice recently.

"We're playing very unselfish, which is very nice to see," McMullen said. "We've pretty much done that all year long. We've got a great group of girls and we're kind of settling in and finding where each other are and where we're going to be at. It's easier with communication, which we've fixed the last couple of weeks. So we're doing a good job of moving the ball overall. I'm very pleased with the last couple of games."

The unselfish play was on display against Central.

Eight different Indians scored, showing how lethal Jackson's attack can be.

Sophomore Mollie Crader started the barrage of scoring for Jackson five minutes into the game when she and Erin Eakens hooked up with a perfect give-and-go around a Central defender before Crader buried the shot.

Central's Brooke Evans loses her footing as she battles for the ball with Jackson's Alex Sotak during Tuesday's game in Jackson.

Crader set up the next goal a minute later when she crossed a ball to Victoria Smith, who settled it, split two defenders and rifled a left-footed bullet into the net.

Crader was back at it five minutes later.

She sent another cross in and Jordan Myer poked it to Hailey Mouser, who made it 3-0.

"We know each other pretty well," Crader said about the team. "We had a little trouble communicating at the beginning, but we definitely got communication and we had a lot of fun together especially since it was senior night and our rival. We had a lot of fun with it."

The defense proved impenetrable while the offense was putting away the game.

Cape Central's Taylor Welker watches Jackson teammates Kasey Crowden, left, Mollie Crader, center, and Jordan Myer celebrate a goal in the first half Tuesday, May 3, 2011 in Jackson. (Laura Simon)

Jackson allowed few shots and zero good opportunities.

"We're just trying not to be predictable game by game," McMullen said. "We are working on our defense every practice, and the defense builds up to the attack. So that's really what we're working on every practice. We want to be fit first and foremost because that prevents a lot of mistakes. But overall the goal is to make sure we get better each game and each practice."

Jackson made it 4-0 on an Eakens goal with seven minutes left in the half, but the score stayed there in large part to the play of Central goalkeeper Apple Thomas.

Thomas made two one-on-one point-blank saves in the first half and came up with a handful more in the second.

"The goals don't matter with that kid, as far as what kind of game she actually had tonight," McMullen said about Thomas. "She definitely kept them in the game and she made some very athletic saves. I was impressed with the way she played the game."

Jackson sophomore Jordan Myer, right, fouls Central defender Faith Tegel during the first half Tuesday in Jackson.

Jackson continued its tear in the second half with a pair of Kasey Crowden goals and one apiece from Crader, Alex Sotak, Hailey Callis and Kylie Seyer.

Crader, Sotak and Callis are all sophomores, while Crowden and Seyer are seniors.

The mix of young and old has been a key part to the Indians' success.

"A lot of those girls played last year as freshmen," McMullen said. "And I think that is a key to the success that they're having this year. It's having that experience from last year. I only have a few seniors and a couple of juniors, but they're doing a good job of helping those girls and being good leaders."

Added Crader: "We have experience, and the seniors, they're our leaders. They keep us down to earth and we learn from their experiences."