Jackson soccer team sustains 1-0 loss to Fox

The Jackson soccer team did just about everything right in its game against Fox on Monday.

The Indians created plenty of scoring chances and outshot the Warriors, but they couldn't find a way to score.

A late first half goal gave Fox a 1-0 lead, which it did not relinquish en route to a win over Jackson at Jackson Junior High School.

"I thought we controlled most of that game and had more opportunities in that game to score, we just couldn't find the back of the net," Jackson coach Zack Walton said. "We tried to throw all kinds of things at them offensively and we had plenty of chances, it just kept coming down to actually scoring and we couldn't do that tonight."

Jackson (3-3) outshot Fox (5-3) 7-3 in the first half and kept the ball on the Warriors side for a majority of the time.

Jackson's Josh Scholl works the ball against Fox's Edis Sabljakovic during the first half Monday, Sept. 15, 2014 in Jackson. (Fred Lynch)

But miscommunication with two minutes to go cost the Indians.

Fox junior Alec Stirnemann intercepted a pass at midfield, dribbled down the left side of the field before crossing to junior Salvatore Palazzolo. Palazzolo took one dribble before passing to a wide open Austin Laslo, who rocketed a shot past Jackson's goal keeper Brayden Emmons.

Fox's Blake Bryant beats Jackson's Hunter Crowden to the ball during the first half Monday, Sept. 15, 2014 in Jackson. (Fred Lynch)

"We didn't have too many offensive opportunities, but when we did we made it count," Fox coach Nathan Niehaus said. "We tried to work the outsides all night to get the cross in because their center backs are pretty good and their goalie came out and gobbled up mostly everything tonight."

In the second half, Jackson went back to its usual game plan of getting the ball out wide to its forwards.

Sophomore Josh Scholl made quick work of defenders throughout the first half, beating them to balls, then racing to the corner and crossing it to the middle of the box.

Several times there was no one to take the cross.

"We didn't have as much help in the box as we should've," Scholl said. "We always want to play the ball out wide and then cross it to the middle so that our guys can put it in the back of the net. If there isn't anyone open, or if our guys aren't getting open that's a problem for us."

Niehaus said he noticed Scholl's speed and the Indians' offensive plan from the start of the game and made adjustment at halftime to reduce the threats.

"He had some speed and we knew we had to track him down," Niehaus said. "We tried double teams to shut him down, which was working, but he still beat us to a lot of balls."

Jackson's Josh Scholl battles Fox's Edis Sabljakovic during the first half Monday, Sept. 15, 2014 in Jackson. (Fred Lynch)

Scholl acknowledged the Warriors' strategy.

"They started putting more guys on me quite a bit in that second," Scholl said. "I could still get by them pretty easily, but it definitely wore me down."

The Indians intensified the heat in the final 10 minutes of the game. Jackson took eight shots on goal, including a breakaway by Scholl with nine minutes to play.

Preston Arnold settled a ball in the air off of a Fox goal kick. Arnold saw Scholl running down the right side of the field without a defender and made a through pass in traffic that landed at the feet of Scholl. Scholl was pressured from behind but managed a low shot from close range that was caught by Warriors goalkeeper Sonny Alunovic.

"There were several that I'd love to have back," Walton said. "That breakaway and a couple others where we had guys at the end line making crosses, but we just couldn't find anybody there. We Struggled on offense and it was frustrating."

Jackson's Preston Arnold jumps for a header against Fox as Colten Weber looks on during the first half Monday, Sept. 15, 2014 in Jackson. (Fred Lynch)

The cross play nearly worked with less than three minutes left in the game, when Kyle Bryant sent a ball into the middle of the box and Arnold headed it off the crossbar. The Warriors' defense cleared the carom.

That was Jackson's final chance.

"Just so many missed opportunities, but they're manageable," Walton said. "The reality of it is, is that we're going to keep attacking the same way. I'm proud of the way these guys played tonight. They know what they need to fix and we'll come right back tomorrow and fix it."

Jackson will host Central today at 7 p.m.

JV -- Jackson 3, Fox 0.