H.S. SOCCER: Jackson Christian wins 15 A-AA title
The final match of the regular season was not what the Jackson Christian soccer team had hoped for. The Lady Eagles saw their undefeated season come to an end to Lexington.
The Lady Eagles grew from that experience and has shown a new level of determination in the three games of the District 15 A-AA tournament.
Jackson Christian capped off the tournament with a 5-1 victory over Trinity Christian Academy at Campbell Street Field on Saturday.
“That loss gave us a friendly reminder that if we don’t come out to play we can be beaten,” Jackson Christian coach Jeff Lean said. “We had to stick with what got us to this point and that is to outwork the other team and come ready to play.”
The Lady Eagles (15-1-2) will host Raleigh-Egypt on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in a region semifinal, while TCA (7-5-2) will travel to White Station to play Westwood on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
The loss to Lexington to end the season was not only the first loss of the season, but it was the only match where the defense gave up multiple goals.
“That loss was a wake up call,” Jackson Christian goalkeeper Kady Beth Cook said. “We didn’t practice the week before, and we came in thinking that we were going to win.”
The defense has been the pride of the team all season, so things had to change quickly. In the three games of the district tournament, Jackson Christian outscored its opponents 15-1.
“After the Lexington game, we all had an edge to us, and we came out to win this tournament,” Cook said. “This week we have to continue to not let the other team score. We have a record for least goals allowed that we want to set, and we have to work as a team.”
Trinity Christian Academy came into the championship on Saturday with 12 players after a four players were out of town. The Lady Lions took some hits early, but settled in and played better as the match went on.
Jackson Christian came out and took a 2-0 lead in the first three minutes as Addie Carter and Amelia Grizzell each scored a goal off of each other’s assist.
The TCA defense then held the Lady Eagles for 18 minutes before the next goal. Catie Beth Hatch scored in the 21st minute from 18 yards out and Grizzell scored her second goal int he 25th minute for the 4-0 lead.
“The big thing for us all season has been the great play of our marking backs — Kelly Brown, Blaire Taggart and Katelyn Swaim,” Lean said. “They have been getting us possession, and we are defending by attacking.”
Grizzell went on to score a hat trick with her third goal coming in the 29th minute, and that was a special goal for the junior. Grizzell now holds the program’s single season record for goals and assists, as well as the career record for goals and assists.
The third goal was her 77th goal of her career, breaking Shelley Carter’s record of 76. She now has 37 goals and 21 assists on the season. She has 46 career assists.
TCA’s goal came in the 52nd minute as sophomore Brynne Lytle dribbled through and scored for her seventh goal of the district tournament.
Michael Odom, 425-9754
Tuesday’s Region Semifinals
Region 7 A-AA
Lexington at Dyersburg, 6 p.m.
Westview at Chester County, 4 p.m.
Region 8 A-AA
Raleigh-Egypt at Jackson Christian, 7 p.m.
TCA vs. Westwood at White Station, 7 p.m.