Jefferson Girls Soccer

J-Hawks routed by Kennedy in regional final

The fourth-ranked Kennedy girls soccer team is going back to the state tournament after rolling over Jefferson, 6-0, in a Class 3A regional final at Kingston Stadium on Monday.

The victory improves the Cougars to 15-3 and puts them into the state tournament for the sixth season in a row. They play West Des Moines Valley (14-4) Thursday at 8 p.m. at Muscatine.

“We are really fortunate to have a lot of talent in the area for whatever reason,” Kennedy Coach Homer Screws said. “Just being there before, it helps you with the nerves. You know what to expect once you get there and how things work, but it is just another game. You can’t put to much into it.”

The Cougars came out hot against Jefferson (8-11), dominating possession and creating scoring chances early against the J-Hawks defense.

It took senior Katie Helmlinger until the 16th minute to break the scoreless tie when she got the ball at the top of the box and fired it into the side netting.

“We really wanted to come out and have a good start to the game,” Helmlinger said. “There was a bit of a rivalry because we had lost to them earlier in the season, so we wanted to come out and prove ourselves.”

The game was still in question until late in the first half when junior Hannah Palomo hammered home a pair of goals just 63 seconds apart to put the Cougars up 3-0.

In the second half, Kennedy netted three more goals. Senior Shauna Happel and freshmen Jordan Holmes and Emily Feltes scored.

Although the Cougars are fighting several minor injuries, Helmlinger said she believes they are hitting their stride as a team right now.

“I think we are in the groove right now, meshing as a team,” Helmlinger said. “Hopefully that will help us in the state tournament.”

Kennedy beat No. 5 West Des Moines Valley 1-0 in their only meeting of the year on May 20, and the Cougars are expecting a fight.

“We played our best game against them and got up 1-0,” Screws said. “Our level of play in that game, if we can match that, it is going to be a good game. They have similar talent so to me it’s like flipping a coin, whoever executes is going to come out with the win.”

Kennedy 6, Jefferson 0
Goals -- Kennedy: Hatie Helmlinger (16th min), Hannah Palomo 2 (35th, 36th), Shauna Happel (42nd), Jordan Holmes (61st), Emily Feltes (74th).

J-Hawks top Waterloo West on goal by Owen

Jenna Owen did not start Wednesday's soccer game for Jefferson High School, but she finished it in style.

Owen scored with 7 minutes, 42 seconds left in regulation to snap an 0-0 tie and give the J-Hawks a 1-0 victory over Waterloo West in the regional semifinals at Kingston Stadium.

Jefferson will face Kennedy in the regional finals Monday at 5 p.m. for a berth in the Class 3A state tournament.

Owen normally starts for the J-Hawks (8-10), but she did not crack the opening lineup Wednesday. Coach Ash Brannan used her as a substitute, and she had just re-entered the game as a midfielder when the crucial play occurred.

Katie Dierks had a throw-in for Jefferson from the far side, and the ball came to Owen in front of the goal.

"I had just come in like two seconds before that," Owen said. "I took a shot. I was kind of shocked it went in, actually. I tried to go over her, because there were a bunch of people in front of me."

Owen lofted the ball over Waterloo West goal-keeper Alex Kastli and gently into the net, ending a scoreless battle. Jefferson dominated the game, but missed several opportunities and needed 72 minutes and 18 seconds to finally score.

"Frustrating," Brannan remarked. "I really wasn't nervous until about 10 minutes left."

He was having a case of deja vu from an earlier game against Waterloo West and didn't like what he saw. The J-Hawks out-shot Waterloo West in a regular-season game, 23-2, but lost 1-0.

"It was the same type of game," he said. "I just didn't want one little slip-up to happen. I honestly thought we'd win 4 or 5 to zero, but it's one of those things."

Brannan took Jefferson to the state tournament in 2006 and 2009, but both times the J-Hawks won regional titles on the road. This time, they'll play for the regional title in Cedar Rapids when they face Kennedy Monday evening at Kingston.

"It would be wonderful to be able to go to state and celebrate in our home town," he said. "We know the challenge is big, but I think we're up for it. At least we have the opportunity."

Kennedy reached the regional finals with a 10-0 victory over Waterloo East Wednesday night.

"We know they're a tough team and they're probably better than us," said Owen, a senior. "But we beat them the last two years, because we've had a tough defense and they haven't been able to make it through and we get that goal."

IC west beats J-Hawks in shootout for MVC title

Iowa City West beat Jefferson, 1-0, Wednesday in a penalty-kick shootout at lower Kingston.

The win gave the Women of Troy (15-2, 12-1 MVC) the Valley Division title. The finished a game ahead of Xavier.

West is 5-0 in shootouts, Jefferson 1-3. The J-Hawks closed out the regular season 7-10 overall, 6-7 in the MVC.

Jefferson's next game is June 1 against Waterloo West in a Class 3A regional semifinal at Kingston Stadium. West plays Iowa City High the same night.

J-Hawks whip Dubuque Senior in girls soccer

DUBUQUE -- Jefferson got five goals from five different players and whipped Dubuque Senior, 5-0, Thursday in a Mississppi Valley Conference girls soccer game.

Katie Dierks, Maggie Bruckman, Riley Kesteron, Kayla Jaschen and Brooke Barnhart scored goals for Jefferson (7-9, 6-6 MVC). Bruckman, Trina Gallagher and Jenna Oewn had an assist apiece. Abby Banker had two assists.

Dubuque Senior is 1-12, 1-11.