Jones lifts J-Hawks in 2OT; Kennedy girls roll
Jefferson Senior Eric Jones found the back off the Kennedy net after a crazy 97 minutes of boys soccer Tuesday night at Kennedy to give the J-Hawks a 2-1 win.
Senior Stefan Krohn set a corner into the box that Ali Al-Yasseri got a touch on before it was headed to a waiting Jones by Ian Karr. Jones buried it in the corner and the J-Hawks went wild.
“I feel great,” Jones said. “It was a great experience. I am glad I was there for the put back.”
The joyous emotion of the J-Hawks was evident as they leaped on top of each other in a big scrum after a thrilling double-overtime win over rival and 3A No. 6 Kennedy.
“There was a lot of joy I almost cried,” Jefferson senior Ali Al-Yasseri said of the J-Hawks' win. “It’s been a long time (since we beat Kennedy).”
The J-Hawks don’t have any big time club players on their squad like many teams. but their large group of experienced seniors more than makes up for this.
“We don’t have club players, but these kids work their butts off,” Jefferson Coach John O’Connor said. “We have talked about earning it and the kids went out and took it tonight.”
The senior leadership was evident throughout the game as the J-Hawk players talked to each other on the field and in team huddles with a clearly positive and motivated manner.
“We have great leadership,” O’Connor said. “It makes my job easy. My speeches in huddles are easy.”
The game as a whole was one of those that both teams should be proud of and if one team didn’t have to win you might say both did.
Jefferson struck first on a free kick from Fabian Huck and held a 1-0 lead despite a lack of possession and offensive attacks.
The Cougars were in almost complete control in the second half and got a goal from Brigham Stewart to knot the game at 1 apiece and send it to overtime.
In the first overtime Kennedy had a couple of great opportunities with none better than a penalty kick after a hand ball was called in the box.
Kennedy senior Riley Galbraith pulled the shot just left of the frame and the J-Hawks lived for a second overtime and ultimately a win.
“We have had a problem finishing opportunities,” Kennedy Coach Mike Robertson said. “When you get a penalty kick chance you expect the game to be over, but it was typical of the game missing that penalty kick.”
J-Hawk keeper Andrew Patience was relieved after the penalty kick missed.
“It was really big," Patience said. "I just thanked God he missed, there is not much you can do on a PK.”
The J-Hawks pushed the attack in the overtime periods, a feat O’Connor attributed in large part to new coach Darius Ballard.
“One big piece of this win came from our strength and conditioning,” O’Connor said. “Darius Ballard is a big part of that. He works these kids hard.”
The J-Hawks won't have long to enjoy this one. They play Class 2A second ranked Xavier on Thursday.
“This was better than an 8-0 route,” O’Connor said. The J-Hawks were beaten by Kennedy 8-0 in O'Connor's first year as coach 12 years ago.
Kennedy will try to bounce back Thursday at class 2A third ranked Dubuque Wahlert.
Earlier in the night the Class 3A sixth-ranked Kennedy girls took care of business, handling the youthful J-Hawks, 7-1.
Kaela Dickerman had two goals and three assists for Kennedy.
The Cougars controlled from the start, taking a 3-0 lead into the half and not surrendering a goal until there were just 13 seconds left in the game.
“I feel sick being beat like that,” Jefferson Coach Ash Brannan said. “We will have some good film to learn from.”
While almost everything went well for the Cougars, the J-Hawks had very little go well. They did get a team captain back on the field tonight with the return of Trina Gallagher, who had been sidelined by a knee injury.
"It was Trina’s first day back. We had to work her in in little bits,” Brannan said. “She played more than we thought she would and felt good. It is the lone positive from the game.”
The young J-Hawks, who start seven freshmen, will need to grow up fast. They host Class 2A top-ranked Xavier on Thursday.
The Cougars will carry the momentum from the big win into a home matchup with Class 1A fourth-ranked Dubuque Wahlert on Thursday.
Boys
Jefferson 2, Kennedy 1 (2OT)
Goals: CRJ – Fabian Huck, Eric Jones. CRK – Brigham Stewart. Assists: CRJ – Hussin Al-Yasseri, Stefan Krohn
Girls
Kennedy 7, Jefferson 1
Goals: CRJ – Katie Dierks. CRK – Jessica Wagner, Tory Harman, Kate Ross, Kaela Dickerman 2, Alyssa Drewelow 2, Abby Hellweg. Assists: CRK – Kaela Dickerman 3, Kate Ross, Emily Feltes 2
