JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — Jackson had myriad readymade excuses against Evanston should they not come away with a win in that game. Coming off their first loss of the season, a schedule change puts the game in Uinta County rather than at home, a stiff crosswind grounding any ball in the air, playing on grass (a rare event), and adjusting to a narrow field.
And then there was Red Devil netminder Domenique Mendez, who acted like nothing was going to get past him for the first 10 minutes.
“Playing on grass is a big deal…adjusting,” admitted Jackson coach Matt Hoelscher. “But more so it was the narrower field. That suited Evanston’s game more than ours.”
The smaller practice football field was easier to clear of snow for Evanston so the match was played on a field much narrower than a standard dimensioned soccer field. The Broncs, in particular, like to play sideline to sideline, forcing opponents to spread out in coverage and leaving the middle more open for their scoring weapons.
Jackson 6, Evanston 1
The Broncs peppered Mendez early. Charlie Hoelscher walked in alone, fed a wide-open Teddy Opler who put his shot right into Mendez. Save.
Mendez had Jackson forward Rutley Heinemann shaking his head in disbelief after making an impossible stop off a Heiny header from in close with 33:47 left to play in the opening half.
Mendez couldn’t do it all, though he sure tried.
After an initial adjustment period where the Broncs had the Red Devils on their heels for the first 20 minute or so, Jackson finally broke the scoreless tie.
With 18:20 left in the half, Sahir Romero drifted himself far right away from the play where he does his best work. No one came to challenge the winger who pushed the ball upfield, eventually sending a perfectly placed floater toward the far side of the goal. Mendez made a superhuman effort to punch the ball out but Opler was waiting on the far side wing. The rebound came right to him. He sent a pass-shot that was barely toed on a redirection by Chris Tzompa for a 1-0 lead. Pretty as they come.
The Broncs again stretched the field width-wise when Romero sent a seeing eye crossing pass for Opler. Hoelscher stepped into the roller, however, just before it arrived and Mendez again picked up another grass stain keeping the rocket out of the net but senior Miguel Perez jumped on the loose change for an easy tap in to make it 2-0 at the half.
An Opler penalty kick made it 3-0 at the 28:43 mark of the 2nd.
After Heinemann was fouled for a free kick, Hunter Dewell simply drifted a back pass to Dilan Tzompa Perez rather than challenge a 4-man wall the Red Devils had set up. Not a bad choice when you have the shot Tzompa Perez does. The senior drilled a 30-yarder right by Mendez for a 4-0 lead with 26:55 to play in regulation.
Evanston finally got on the board when senior Tanner Newsome sent a prayer floating Javy Huta’s way. The wind knocked the ball down a bit so that what looked like a sure overshoot came down perfectly under the crossbar. Huta timed his jump poorly and the Devils’ sole goal is one Huta would like to have back.
Heinemann, who was dominant all game, added Jackson’s 5th goal after beating three Evanston defenders.
Minutes later, Heinemann fed a perfect through-ball to a streaking Tzompa Perez who somehow had his shot stopped by Mendez who was not yet done compiling his highlight reel.
Tzompa Perez would finally get his 2nd of the game with 10:06 to play on a blast from 15 yards out to make it a 6-1 final.
Next up
With the win, Jackson improves to 6-1 overall, 4-1 in conference. Evanston falls to 1-6, 0-5. The Broncs hit the road again to take on Rock Springs (6-2, 4-2) this Friday, before returning home to host Green River (4-3, 3-2) on Saturday.
