JACKSON -- Jackson has been able to get away with a brazen offensive mindset this season.

But the Indians prepared to temper their aggressive style Thursday afternoon against Notre Dame, who had beaten them 4-0 earlier in the season.

"We'd gotten into the habit of playing run-and-gun," Jackson coach Bonnie Knowlan said. "We felt like we couldn't play that way against them. We worked on possession in practice, and I felt like we passed the ball better in this game."

Jackson and Notre Dame came away from their evenly played game Thursday in a 2-2 tie.

Zach Miller and Tommy Wencewicz scored for Notre Dame (12-1-2). Nathan Windeknecht tallied twice for Jackson (8-3-1).

Windeknecht's low left-footer midway through the second half was the final equalizer.

"That was the best game we've played all year," said Windeknecht, a speedy striker who now has 23 goals on the season. "The freshmen and sophomores played like seniors, and we controlled the ball instead of playing kick ball."

Miller provided Notre Dame with the early lead, just over five minutes into the game. Miller took a pass from Jason Garner, beat the defense and fired a shot past Jackson keeper Paul Johns.

Five minutes later, Windeknecht tied the game. Windeknecht collected a rebound of his own corner kick and chipped a 20-yard shot from a tough angle over Notre Dame keeper Colin Vandergraaf.

"I was trying to cross," Windeknecht said. "I guess I got lucky."

Jackson owned a distinct field position advantage late in the second half, and just missed on a pair of chances, the best of which was a headball wide of the net from midfielder Tyler Stearns.

With the game tied 1-1 at halftime, Notre Dame came out firing early in the second half.

Cory Elfrink was robbed in the box a few minutes into the half on a hustling slide tackle by Ben Turner, but a few minutes later, Wencewicz gave the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead with his sixth goal of the season.

Wencewicz volleyed a headball on Zach Miller's corner kick to the left of Johns.

"One of their guys was pushing on me," Wencewicz said. "I knew the kick would be high, so I let him push. He was off-balance, and I went up and headed it in."

Although the Bulldogs knew what Windeknecht could do, they couldn't stop him from doing it. Less than 10 minutes after Wencewicz's goal, Windeknecht outraced a defender and beat Vandergraaf, who had come out of the crease to cut down the angle.

"(Windeknecht) is about the fastest guy I've ever seen. He's everywhere, and he can shoot from everywhere," Wencewicz said. "We kind of panicked in the end, kicking the ball long instead of making short passes."

The game was physical throughout, especially in the second half. But no cards were issued.

"It was a terrific game," Notre Dame coach Brad Wittenborn said. "Windeknecht was a handful out there. It was helpful for my team to have someone like that play against us."

* Notre Dame's junior varsity beat Jackson 2-1.

Timmy Wencewicz and Shane Kistner scored for the Bulldogs. Matt Gordon scored for Jackson.