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| Offensive outburst propels Lady Jays past Kewpies, 3-1
By TOM RACKERS News Tribune The Jefferson City Lady Jays had dropped eight straight games to the Hickman Kewpies. And the total Lady Jay offensive output in those eight games -- zero goals. So the Lady Jays were looking to clear a big hurdle when the two teams squared off for the Class 2 District 10 title Wednesday night at the 179 Soccer Park. They cleared it. And then some. "I thought we could," Lady Jays coach Chris Miller said after Jefferson City stopped Hickman 3-1. "In the past, no, I thought if we were going to win, it would have to be 1-0. "But with the offensive players we have now, we have better chances to score." With the win, the Lady Jays (17-7-1) advance to the sectional round at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Cosmo Park in Columbia. The seeds for the win may have been sowed back in March. The Lady Jays started the season running the length of the field -- 120 yards -- seven times. "We told them by the end of the year, we'd be running 10 of them," Miller said. "And we did it last Saturday. Some of them had their tongues hanging out." Wednesday's game was tied at 1 midway through the second half when Jennifer Englehardt sprinted from the midfield area all the way to the corner on the Hickman end to chase down the ball. "The first thing (Englehardt) said when she came off was it was because of those 120s," Miller said. The senior then centered it to the front of the net where Kelsey Sanders was there to line home the eventual game-winner. "Jennifer had to make at least a 60-yard run to get to it," Miller said. "And then Kelsey made the monster finish." The Lady Jays broke on the board in first minute of the game. "In big games, you have to make big plays," Miller said. On a restart, Sanders lined a shot off the crossbar. Carly Wilson was there to put back the rebound to give the Lady Jays the early lead. "It was a little far out for (Sanders), but we thought we'd try it," Miller said. "Carly just read it and got in there." But Hickman (11-5-3), the three-time defending district champion, wasn't rattled. "I think we may have jumped up and swatted the hornet's nest a little bit," Miller said. The Kewpies got the better of play for much of the remaining half. But they weren't able to put one past the Lady Jays' defense. Hickman knotted the game three minutes into the second half on a goal by Kelsey McClure, who hit a liner from outside the box over the head of Lady Jays keeper Jessie Sanderson. "That was a great goal on a great shot," Miller said. "Nobody stops that, I don't care how good a goalie you are. "I knew we'd have to get two anyway." The Lady Jays added an insurance goal in the final minute on a goal by Kelley Zagorac. "That was just Hickman gambling and we were able to get behind them," Miller said. Miller credited the Lady Jays' defense for an exceptional effort. "You can't say enough about all of the girls in the back," he said. "To chase Hickman around back there the entire game and only to give up one goal is outstanding." It is the first district soccer title for the Lady Jays since 1998. News Tribune, Sunday, May 29, 2005 Lady Jays' Bates named Co-Player of the Year in Central Region Laura Bates of the Jefferson City Lady Jays has been named Co-Player of the Year in the Central Region by the Missouri High School Soccer Coaches Association. Bates, a senior defender, shared the honor with Hickman senior midfielder Janelle Cordia. Bates was part of a defense that helped the Lady Jays to their first state playoff appearance in seven years. Offensively, she had one goal and one assist. Cordia finished with five goals and seven assists this season. Lady Jays sophomore Jessie Sanderson was voted the region's Goalkeeper of the Year. Sanderson finished the year with 17 wins, allowing just over one goal per game. Kelsey Sanders of the Lady Jays, a freshman, was selected as the region's Offensive Player of the Year. Sanders, a forward, led the area in scoring this season, totaling 17 goals and nine assists. Chris Miller of Jefferson City was selected as the region's Coach of the Year. Bates, Sanderson and Sanders were also named to the all-region team. Other Lady Jays selected to the squad include junior midfielder Jenna Steiner and senior midfielder Carly Wilson. Anna Wilson of Helias, a senior, was named to the team as a midfielder. For the complete all-region team, as well as the Class 2 All-District 10 team, see page 26. |
| News Tribune, July 03, 2005 Three Lady Jays named to all-state soccer team Three Jefferson City Lady Jays were named to the Class 2 Girls All-State Soccer Team, as selected by the Missouri High School Soccer Coaches Association. Jessie Sanderson was named as one of the two goalkeepers on the first team. Jenna Steiner was one of 11 midfielders on the second team, while Laura Bates was one of seven defenders named honorable mention. Sanderson, a sophomore, finished with 17 wins for the district champion Lady Jays this season, posting eight shutouts with a 1.08 goals against average. Steiner, a junior, led the area with 15 assists this season while scoring four goals. Bates, a senior, had a goal and an assist while pacing the Lady Jays defense. Jefferson City (17-8-2) finished in the top 20 in the final Class 2 state rankings. |
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| Jessie Sanderson (left) and Jenna Steiner (News Tribune) |
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| 2005 Newspaper Articles |
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