SPORTS

October 11, 2011

Unfortunate timing for Eagle injuries results in team's crash course with doom

Gary Franklin, Sports Editor

The 2011 Jac-Cen-Del Eagle co-ed soccer team had a season filled with promise and expectation of a solid run in the extended season action. Key word here being, "had".
As fate sometimes dictates late in a sports season, season ending injuries to three of their starters, left Eagle starters unavailable for action when the squad had the most on the line to lose.
Carrying a perfect 9-0 ORVC conference record until their September 28, meeting with the Rising Sun Shiners which resulted in a 0-3 loss for JCD, the sky seemed to be the limit for them.
Plagued by injuries, that was the beginning of the team's unfortunate demise. A second conference loss came on September 29, at JCDHS at the hand of the visiting Southwestern Hanover Rebels, falling 0-1 for the match.
Unable to compensate for loss of key players, the team struggled to regain some type of composure.
Struggling through their last regular season contest against community rival South Ripley at SRHS on Friday, September 30, sealed their doom for a chance to be the 2011 ORVC conference champion. The loss to JCD, coupled with a 1-0 win by SwH over the Rising Sun Shiners, established the Rebels as ORVC champs in 2011.
2011 IHSAA
Boys Soccer Sectional #57
Opening night action of Sectional #57 found the two new teams to the JCDHS hosted sectional squaring off. They being the Trinity Lutheran Cougars and the Lawrenceburg Tigers. Both former JCDHS hosted soccer sectional rivals, the Milan Indians and the Jennings County Panthers, had been shifted to new sites with class soccer this season.
The Tigers delivered a 7-2 victory over the Cougars and instilled the likelihood of being the likely dominate team in Sectional #57, which they later proved, earning the opportunity to advance to regional play.
Game two of opening night competition was a battle between the hosting rival Jac-Cen-Del Eagles and neighboring rival South Ripley Raiders.
At stake, more than bragging rights and a two games to one win over the season, the remaining spot in the sectional championship game against Lawrenceburg and hopes of moving on to regional action.
Raiders win
2-1 over Eagles
The hosting Eagles captured a one to 0 lead after many minutes of battling in the first half, only to have SR knot the contest at 1 before first half play ended.
During second half action, controversy over an attempted drive for goal by JCD's Jared Dickman crossed the goal line or not was ruled no point as play resumed.
At the conclusion of the second half, the score remained 1-1, forcing two seven minute overtime periods to be played.
The first overtime period netted neither team a goal. Already short three starting players from their lineup, Eagle Aaron Harmeyer was assessed a red card and removed from the game. Only a few minutes later, Eagle starter Jared Dickman was kicked and limped off the field.
With JCD desperately short key players and just under three minutes remaining on the second overtime period game clock, the Raiders instilled what would result in being the dagger that slayed the Eagles for a 2-1 sectional win.
SR moved on to face Lawrenceburg in the championship contest started for Saturday night, October 8.
Tigers win 4-0 over SR Raiders
With the grandstands pretty well divided between Raider and Tiger parents and fans, the battle got underway near the 7 p.m. mark on Saturday, October 8.
The Tigers scored virtually quickly on a controversial goal that many thought had gone out on the end line and was played back in.
In summary, the Tigers were credited with 2 goals in each half of the 80 minutes of regular game competition to grasp a 4-0 victory, advancing to 2011 boys regional soccer action.
Congratulations to Lawrenceburg Athletic Director Glenn Crocker and his fine tuned soccer teams. Both the Tigers and the Lady Tiger soccer teams advanced to regional play from their respective sectionals on Saturday, October 8.
The Lady Tiger victory was over the Oldenburg Academy Lady Twisters in IHSAA Girls Soccer Sectional #44 championship game, hosted by Lawrenceburg High School.
Indians compete in IHSAA Boys Soccer Sectional #54,
at Batesville HS
Due to IHSAA realignment, the Milan Indian coed soccer team found their venue for 2011 soccer sectional action moved from the Jac-Cen-Del Sectional #57 site to Batesville Sectional #54.
The Indians faced Greensburg in their first match, falling by a final score of 2-7.

Pictured above, South Ripley Raiders Ryan Lengerich (18) and Joey Ayers (14) out hustle the rushing Lawrenceburg Tiger to kick the ball away from the goal.

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Pictured above, the 2011 South Ripley Raider Boys Soccer team celebrate a last regular season game victory over the rival Jac-Cen-Del Eagles, regaining them possession of the coveted "Matt Obendorf Traveling Memorial Trophy".