WINDEKNECHT AGAIN FILLING UP THE NETS

JACKSON -- When Nathan Windeknecht broke Jackson High's single-season soccer scoring record last year, he figured he had hit the jackpot.

"I thought I kind of just got lucky," said Windeknecht, a senior striker for the Indians. "I thought this year, maybe I'd start to get watched."

He was right about the second part. Windeknecht is being watched closely by opposing defenses this year -- sometimes by triple-teams -- but so far, it has not affected his luck one bit.

With eight games remaining before district play, Windeknecht has scored 29 goals, two better than his record-setting 27 last year.

"I just try to go to the goal," Windeknecht said. "And whatever happens, happens."

What happens, happens very quickly. Windeknecht, who as a track athlete holds the Jackson school record in the long jump (21 feet, seven inches) and also runs in the 4x100 relay, has blazing speed.

"(Windeknecht) is about the fastest guy I've ever seen," said Notre Dame's Tommy Wencewicz, after Windeknecht scored two goals in Jackson's 2-2 tie with the Bulldogs last week. "He's everywhere, and he can shoot from everywhere."

"His speed sets him apart," Jackson coach Bonnie Knowlan said. "The thing Nathan has, though, is a burst of speed. There are a lot of fast strikers out there, but they aren't as fast in those first 10 yards."

Speed means little, according to Windeknecht, if the ball is not there.

The Indians' midfield and backfield, rebuilt after a heavy hit of graduation last year, has given Windeknecht more chances this year.

"If it wasn't for the team this wouldn't be happening for me," Windeknecht said. "We're keeping the ball in the offensive end a lot more."

"Nathan's not afraid to take a shot," Knowlan said. "But he's also more willing to rely on the guys behind him.

"We've worked with him on movement without the ball. He's double-teamed most of the time, triple-teamed sometimes. Around here, people tend to forget about everybody else on our team."

Midfielders Spencer Knowlan (14 goals, 5 assists), Chris Kohm (5g, 7a) and Tyler Stearns (6,4) have gotten in on the scoring, and sweeper Ben Turner leads the team with 10 assists.

Raju Dirnberger, Windeknecht's partner up top, has 8 goals and 5 assists.

Of course, who could blame a team for expending extra effort on Windeknecht. In Jackson's first-place finish in the West Plains Tournament last weekend, Windeknecht scored five goals in three games, including his sixth hat trick of the season in a 7-1 win victory over West Plains.

"The thing about Nathan is, I think he gets inside people's heads," Bonnie Knowlan said. "I think he really likes beating those guys to the goal. And once he beats them, he can beat them all day long."