LINDBERGH ELIMINATES JACKSON IN SECTIONAL

FENTON -- Sometimes preparation just isn't enough.

The Jackson Indian soccer team made it to the Anheuser-Busch Soccer Complex well over an hour early for their Class 4A Sectional Tuesday.

With no bus to take them to the game, their opponents, the Lindbergh Flyers, didn't make it to the field until less than a half hour before the start.

The Flyers late arrival didn't matter.

Lindbergh scored three minutes into the game and controlled most of the contest for a 3-1 victory.

Lindbergh, now 22-2-4, advanced to the quarterfinals with the victory. Jackson, making its first-ever sectional appearance, completed its record-breaking season with a 14-4-6 mark.

Lindbergh's leading scorer, John Pedroli, assisted on the first goal and added two second-half goals to lead the Flyers. Pedroli now has 28 goals and 12 assists.

Jackson's Spencer Knowlan scored the Indians' only goal, his 12th, with an assist from Ben Turner.

Considering Lindbergh's late arrival, the Flyers early goal really hurt the Indians. It appeared to relax the Flyers after rushing through their pre-game drills.

"In any soccer game, if you score first then that puts you way up," said Jackson coach Bonnie Knowlan. "We didn't play real well the first 20 minutes."

Long-time Lindbergh coach Glen Mehrhoff, completing his 21st and final season at the school, explained the Flyers problems before the game.

"Our bus was late and then it didn't show up, so we packed everybody up in cars and sent them over here," Mehrhoff said. "Everybody had to drive over separately."

Despite less preparation time, Lindbergh took it to the Indians right from the start.

Mark Fauke scored the opening goal, his fourth, past Jackson goalkeeper Jeremy Balsman on a perfect set-up from Pedroli.

"The first goal was a beauty," said Mehrhoff. "Mark hit that from about 20 yards out and it was just a rocket."

Jackson got an early shot on goal from Nathan Windeknecht, but didn't mount much offense until late in the first half.

On one threatening possession, three Indians -- Raju Dirnberger, Chris Kohm and Zane McClard -- worked the ball the length of the field. Spencer Knowlan had worked himself free for a centering pass but Lindbergh goalie Bill Walters got to the pass before Knowlan could get his foot on the ball.

"Lindbergh was a very fast team; very well-skilled," said coach Knowlan. "But my guys never quit. We played hard to the end."

Trailing only 1-0 at the half, Jackson was unable to get much offense generated early in the second half. That's when Pedroli started to warm up on the cold evening.

Pedroli intercepted an errant Jackson pass in front of the goal and rifled a shot past Balsman for a 2-0 lead at the 28-minute mark.

Seven minutes later, Pedroli lofted an unbelievable shot over Balsman to make the score 3-0.

"John got lucky on that one," Mehrhoff said. "We thought it was a pass, but it just floated in. That's why I call him the `magic man' because he does that all the time."

Three minutes later, Spencer Knowlan gave the Jackson fans a good excuse to jump up off the frigid bleachers.

Off a direct kick just outside the box, Turner squeezed a pass between two defenders and Kwowlan raced in and tipped the ball past Lindbergh's goalie.

"They've worked on that a couple of times in practice and were never able to get it to work," said Bonnie Knowlan. "But it was awesome tonight. It was a sweet play."

Spencer said he communicated the play to Turner with his eyes.

"I looked at him and motioned in one direction," Spencer said. "I just flicked it over and it went in the upper part of the goal."

Despite contolling the action for most of the game, Mehrhoff felt fortunate to advance to the quarterfinals.

"This Jackson team scared us a little bit because they have a lot of speed up top," Mehrhoff said. "We knew they we're going to come at us and that made me nervous."