Jackson trips in boys soccer quarterfinal

The Jackson boys soccer team overcame one giant hurdle this season when it won its sectional playoff game for the first time.

Leaping the next hurdle will have to wait at least one more year.

The Indians lost to Saint Louis University High 4-1 in Saturday's Class 3 state quarterfinals.

"They made history this year," Jackson coach Zack Walton said. "I'm proud of them for winning that sectional game, proud of them for winning districts. I thought they ended the season on a high note. Everybody wants to win one more, but unfortunately it doesn't always go that way for you."

SLUH, which finished second in Class 3 last season, took the lead less than 10 minutes into the game when a Junior Bill was able to get free in front of the Jackson goal for an easy score.

Jackson's Hunter Garrison, left, and Cody Boehme react after Saint Louis University High scored its third goal of the game during the second half Saturday in Jackson. (Kristin Eberts)

"They played a little ball into the box and our defender came and our goalie came," Walton said. "Just a lack of communication right there, and so that broke down on us."

The Indians struggled to retain possession of the ball at the game's outset.

"You've got to give SLU credit a little bit," Walton said. "They're quick and pressured us a lot. It was kind of hard for us to get into our possession game as much as we wanted to. They put a lot of pressure on our outside players and on our backs. Nobody wanted to make that mistake, so we would just clear the ball sometimes, so that made it a little bit difficult for us to get possession."

Jackson was able to regroup, even after surrendering an early goal.

"We had a talk," said Jackson midfielder Clayton Baker, who said his team was a little shaky at the start of the game. "We had to get better balls going. We had to know we had to bounce back. It wasn't going to get easier than that."

Jackson's Dylan Blaylock and Saint Louis University High's Rob Carr collide as they rush toward the ball during the second half Saturday.

After earning a few scoring chances in the latter part of the first half, Jackson cashed in on a free kick with just less than 14 minutes left in the half.

"We're just trying to get the ball in the box and get somebody to put their head on the ball right there," Walton said. "We've got some kids that can get up and put their head on the ball."

Cody Boehme sent the ball into the box, where Law Duncan was able to assist teammate Ryan Schlick.

"Law headed it," Schlick said. "The keeper had a save and then I just tapped it in."

The goal evened the score 1-1.

St. Louis University High's Joe Rund takes a fall as Jackson's Law Duncan moves the ball down-field during the second half of a boys Class 3 quarterfinal game on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010, in Jackson. Jackson lost 4-1. (Kristin Eberts)

"Law did a great job of getting in the air and being first to the ball and making the keeper make a diving save," Walton said. "And Ryan was smart enough to know that there was going to be a rebound and put it back in."

The Junior Bills, though, took the lead for good with 7 minutes, 4 seconds left in the first half when Paul Buehler's free kick from just outside the box landed untouched in the left side of the net.

"I think we started to play better and then as the game went on, some of us got tired," Baker said. "We lost confidence after the second goal.

"It was a very well-kicked ball. The wall might have been off by a few players, but I thought the wall was pretty well set. It was just a good shot."

The Junior Billikens added two more goals in the second half, one of which just skimmed off the fingers of leaping goalkeeper Austin Baker.

"Well they had some real lucky breaks," Duncan said. "It's really how the game sums up. They're a really good team, very intense, move the ball really fast and the ball just rolled their way a couple times. Then after it rolls their way so many times into the back of the net, the game is over."

Jackson finished the season 17-7.

"We've never been in the quarterfinals," Baker said. "We're happy to get here. We made history by winning sectionals. We came out saying we'd have to lose because we've been here once, they've been here many times. I wish them the best of luck in the semifinals."