After dropping a pair of 1-0 decisions to start the soccer season, the Jefferson City Jays have flipped the script.
"You have to learn to win 1-0," Jays coach Scott Blake said after Jefferson City defeated Quincy (Ill.) Notre Dame 1-0 on Thursday night at the 179 Soccer Park. "If we can get a goal and make it stand up, that shows what kind of team we can be because you have to be able to do that against the very good teams."
The Jays have won their last two games by 1-0, which was the official final score of Tuesday's victory in PKs against Hickman in Columbia.
"Every game has brought a different set of variables," Blake said. "But one thing that has been constant is working on building from the back forward."
The Jays defense was stout in their home opener, limiting Notre Dame to just two shots.
"Shootout soccer is not our style of soccer," Blake said. "I think we're going to have more games like this as the season goes on. Play a stingy defense, but add something on the offensive end."
Blake said this was the first game this season Jefferson City was the more aggressive offensive team.
"We had to carry the pace of play," he said. "We had to rely on defending and playing it back on the break the first three games, it was nice to knock some of the rust off a play a more offensive style."
After a scoreless first half, the lone goal of the contest came midway through the final 40 minutes.
Notre Dame was whistled for a foul and the ball was placed just outside the box. Layton Boyce lined a low shot into the bottom corner of the net on the ensuing kick.
"He found a seam and got it through," Blake said. "Normally when he hits it, it's up. But he saw something and kept it low and tucked it away."
The Jays were more dangerous on the offensive end in the second half.
"We played a lot of combinations within their defense instead of just kicking it and I thought it was just a matter of time before we broke through with one," Blake said. "Their defense is pretty good, but we found a way to get one and get a win."
Jefferson City is back in action Wednesday at Rolla.
In Thursday's JV game, Jefferson City blanked Quincy Notre Dame 3-0.
Notes: It has been announced Jefferson City will be the host school for the Class 4 District 11 Tournament later this season. The other district teams are Hickman, Rock Bridge and Sedalia Smith-Cotton. This is the first time the Jays have hosted a district soccer tournament since 2007. Blake said the program will honor former head coach Eddie Horn on Oct. 7, the first day the Art Firley Shootout, at the 179 Soccer Park. The ceremony will be held before the last game of the day, which is slated for an 8 p.m. start.