Jays, Lee's Summit West enter quarterfinal contest with stout defenses

Goals figure to be tough to come by this afternoon as the Jefferson City Jays take on the Lee's Summit West Titans in Class 4 quarterfinal soccer action.

Jefferson City (18-5) and Lee's Summit West (18-5) are both allowing an average of less than a goal per contest this season heading into the 2 p.m. game at Lee's Summit West.

The Jays, who have posted 12 shutouts this season, are allowing 0.7 goals per game. Jefferson City's 12th shutout came Wednesday night when the Jays blanked Springfield Central 3-0 in the sectional round at Eddie Horn Field.

The Titans, with nine shutouts, are giving up 0.9 goals per game and have not allowed more than one goal since a 5-2 win against Kickapoo on Oct. 4.

Lee's Summit West was 2-4 to start the season, but has rattled off nine straight wins heading into this afternoon's game. The Titans have outscored their opponents 23-5 in the streak. Lee's Summit West won the District 12 title with victories against Joplin (8-0) and Raymore-Peculiar (2-1) before defeating Ozark (2-1) in a sectional on the road Wednesday night.

The Titans, who average a little more than two goals scored, have won six of their seven games at home this season. The Jays, at just under three goals per game, are 3-1 in true road contests.

Jefferson City received votes in all three regular-season polls by the Missouri Soccer Coaches Association. Lee's Summit West was No. 8 in the final regular-season poll.

Today's winner will advance to the Class 4 Final Four next Friday at World Wide Technology Soccer Park in Fenton against the winner of the quarterfinal between Lee's Summit (20-0) and Park Hill South (17-8). The semifinal is slated for 6:30 p.m.

The third-place and championship games will be played next Saturday.

Jefferson City is bidding for its first Final Four appearance since 1998, while Lee's Summit West has not advanced to the semifinals since 2011.