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No. 1 Markers hand 4-0 loss to Lady Jays
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By TOM RACKERS
News Tribune
COLUMBIA -- For 33 minutes, the Jefferson City Lady Jays played the Nerinx Hall Markers -- the No. 1 ranked team in the country -- to a standoff.
But then ...
"The wheels fell off," Lady Jays coach Chris Miller said. "We were leaving too many people unmarked in the box."
The Markers scored three goals in the final seven minutes of the first half and went on to a 4-0 victory over the Lady Jays in Class 2 sectional soccer Tuesday at Cosmo Park.
"We were seven minutes away from getting out and escaping," Miller said. "Those seven minutes really dictated the remainder of the game."
The three goals came in a four-shot span.
"All we want to do was score at least one, play some good defense and get a win," Markers coach Vince Becker said. "The extra goals are a little bit of glory, but just score one and get out of here."
The game wouldn't have gone scoreless for so long without the outstanding play of Lady Jays keeper Jessie Sanderson.
"I'll put her up with anybody," Miller said. "We knew she'd be under a lot of pressure, but I think she responded like a top-level player."
The St. Louis school hit Sanderson with an early barrage, getting five good scoring chances in the first 25 minutes.
"We were knocking the ball around really well and that's a good sign because normally we get off to a slow start," Becker said.
The Markers made an offensive adjustment to finally break on the scoreboard.
"You have to get (Sanderson) moving a little bit, if you hit it right at her, she's going to catch everything," Becker said. "Luckily, we started working the ball wide a little bit and got her off the line and we took advantage of it."
Nina Kelly got the first score when the Markers were able to break past the Lady Jays defense with seven minutes to go the half.
Julie King then scored the next two goals in the final two minutes of the half.
The Markers' speed on offense proved to be pivotal.
"Their pace up front is just phenomenal," Miller said. "We got spread out and they had all kinds of space to run around."
Instead of a scoreless game at half, the Lady Jays were looking a three-goal deficit.
"We were looking to survive, may get a shot or two, then come out ready to go in the second half," Miller said.
King got her third goal with about seven minutes remaining on an assist from Carolyn Mueller.
"It's unfortunate we didn't end with our best effort, but you've got to credit Nerinx," Miller said. "You can't practice for this, they had us scrambling and eventually it cost us."
The Markers (26-0-1), who will face Rolla (24-2-1) in the quarterfinals Saturday, aren't making a big deal out of being the top-ranked team in the country.
"We don't talk to them about being No. 1, but the kids read the paper and they talk about it among themselves," Becker said. "The big thing is that it puts a target on your back every game because your opponent has nothing to lose."
This was the first postseason appearance for the Lady Jays in seven seasons and it was a good learning experience.
"When you set your goal to win the district, you need to realize that there's life after that," Miller said. "If we're fortunate enough to get back here again, that's something we're going to have to address."
The Lady Jays end the season at 17-8-1.
But then ...
"The wheels fell off," Lady Jays coach Chris Miller said. "We were leaving too many people unmarked in the box."
The Markers scored three goals in the final seven minutes of the first half and went on to a 4-0 victory over the Lady Jays in Class 2 sectional soccer Tuesday at Cosmo Park.
"We were seven minutes away from getting out and escaping," Miller said. "Those seven minutes really dictated the remainder of the game."
The three goals came in a four-shot span.
"All we want to do was score at least one, play some good defense and get a win," Markers coach Vince Becker said. "The extra goals are a little bit of glory, but just score one and get out of here."
The game wouldn't have gone scoreless for so long without the outstanding play of Lady Jays keeper Jessie Sanderson.
"I'll put her up with anybody," Miller said. "We knew she'd be under a lot of pressure, but I think she responded like a top-level player."
The St. Louis school hit Sanderson with an early barrage, getting five good scoring chances in the first 25 minutes.
"We were knocking the ball around really well and that's a good sign because normally we get off to a slow start," Becker said.
The Markers made an offensive adjustment to finally break on the scoreboard.
"You have to get (Sanderson) moving a little bit, if you hit it right at her, she's going to catch everything," Becker said. "Luckily, we started working the ball wide a little bit and got her off the line and we took advantage of it."
Nina Kelly got the first score when the Markers were able to break past the Lady Jays defense with seven minutes to go the half.
Julie King then scored the next two goals in the final two minutes of the half.
The Markers' speed on offense proved to be pivotal.
"Their pace up front is just phenomenal," Miller said. "We got spread out and they had all kinds of space to run around."
Instead of a scoreless game at half, the Lady Jays were looking a three-goal deficit.
"We were looking to survive, may get a shot or two, then come out ready to go in the second half," Miller said.
King got her third goal with about seven minutes remaining on an assist from Carolyn Mueller.
"It's unfortunate we didn't end with our best effort, but you've got to credit Nerinx," Miller said. "You can't practice for this, they had us scrambling and eventually it cost us."
The Markers (26-0-1), who will face Rolla (24-2-1) in the quarterfinals Saturday, aren't making a big deal out of being the top-ranked team in the country.
"We don't talk to them about being No. 1, but the kids read the paper and they talk about it among themselves," Becker said. "The big thing is that it puts a target on your back every game because your opponent has nothing to lose."
This was the first postseason appearance for the Lady Jays in seven seasons and it was a good learning experience.
"When you set your goal to win the district, you need to realize that there's life after that," Miller said. "If we're fortunate enough to get back here again, that's something we're going to have to address."
The Lady Jays end the season at 17-8-1.
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| Four area athletes to compete at championships | Cardinals 2, Pirates 1, 12 innings |
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