Jackson secures #3 seed in the West with win over Kelly Walsh

JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — It was a defensive standoff between two cautious teams content to play a close marking game with a bulk of play at midfield for the entire first half. Then Jackson came out in the 2nd and did in a span of 3 minutes what they were unable to do in the first 40.

The three quick strikes gave Jackson a lead they would never relinquish enroute to a 3-1 win over Kelly Walsh in a game with important seeding implications for state.

Jackson 3, Kelly Walsh 1

These two teams played to identical 2-2 ties previous during the regular season, so it was no surprise to see a 0-0 standoff after the 1st half—the first 40 minutes marked by a ton of play between the 40s with very few scoring chances.

Hannah Holmberg’s speed created a couple of opportunities for the Lady Trojans. Brooklyn Hills had her hands full playing deep centerfield to make sure nothing got behind her. With 1:40 left in the 1st half, Hills almost gave up too early on one roller Holmberg had her eye on but Jackson keeper Sidney Nash scooped up the loose ball just in time.

Natalie Joralemon denied Trojan striker Aspen Scherck on a crossing attempt that would have been an easy tap in. Joralemon tripped Scherck up and no call was made. Phew!

The 2nd half was much better for Jackson as the girls found their legs and space that was at such a premium in the 1st 40 was suddenly more abundant. When the Broncs struck, they did so in a flash—3 goals in 3 minutes.

With the Trojans obsessed with stopping Phoebe Alva Rosa and Taya McClennen, it was their pitch-and-catch out at the 30 yards line that had several Kelly Walsh defenders mesmerized. That was when McClennen snuck in a pretty short pass to send Melissa Morillon Jimenez in on a 3-on-2 break with Alva Rosa and Albany McCooey to her left.

Morillon Jimenez wouldn’t need either of her mates. She fired a perfectly placed strike, top shelf, for the 1-0 Jackson lead with 31:32 on the clock.

Less than a minute later, Alva Rosa centered up a beauty off a throw-in to Albany McCooey who fired true from close range. 2-0 Jackson with 29:47 to play in regulation.

Less than a minute after that, Alva Rosa lobbed a long across the field to forward Piper Lee who used her speed to slip past freshman defender Kamryn Walker and slam one home from 15 yards out with 28:17 showing on the clock.

Bam-bam-bam…just like that, the Broncs were up 3-0 against a team that is stingy with goals against.

But Kelly Walsh would not go without a fight. A corner kick that Hills mistimed for a header went right off the back of Morillon Jimenez and into the net for an own goal.

That was as close as Kelly Walsh would get as Jackson closed out the Trojans for a win that might have been their biggest of the season. Here’s why…

Next up

The Lady Broncs’ win locks them in as the #3 seed in the west. How big is that? Jackson gets to avoid the beast in the east, Thunder Basin. The Bolts are 15-0 on the season. They’ve surrendered a total of 2 goals all season. It will be on Kelly Walsh, as the #4 seed in the West to face Thunder Basin in the opening round of state play.

Jackson will begin the state tournament against a much more manageable Sheridan (10-6-1) on Thursday, May 19 at 2pm.