Thomey, Harris help SJO soccer end Cornjerker Classic with win

The St. Joseph-Ogden High School soccer team ended the Cornjerker Classic in style.

Carrying a four-match losing streak into its match against Iroquois West, SJO produced a 1-0 win against Iroquois West this past Saturday. Colin Thomey scored the lone goal in the match off an assist by Rachel Harris to give the Spartans (5-5-1) their first win in more than a week.

Prior to the win against Iroquois West, SJO lost 1-0 to Monticello in its first match this past Saturday in Hoopeston and opened its stay at the two-day Cornjerker Classic with a 2-0 loss last Friday against Grant Park.

SJO was held without a goal for the first time during a 2-0 home loss against Fisher/Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley on Sept. 7. Hunter Ketchum compiled 11 saves in the loss.

The Spartans sustained a 4-3 loss at Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin on Sept. 6. BHRA led 2-0 before Aiden Cromwell scored off an assist from Spenser Wilson to trim SJO’s deficit to 2-1 by halftime. The Spartans tied the match at 2 off a goal by Jackson Greer that was assisted by Thomey before BHRA took a 4-2 lead with two goals. Thomey had the final goal in the match for SJO off an assist from Wilson. Ketchum had eight saves in the match.

SJO opened September with an impressive 3-1 win at Hoopeston Area on Sept. 2. Trailing 1-0 at halftime, the Spartans rallied in the second half behind a goal from Cromwell and two goals from Thomey. Jared Emmert finished with two assists, while Owen Baltzell also had an assist. Ketchum made 18 saves in the win against the Cornjerkers.

Now, with a few days of rest after their stay at the Cornjerker Classic, SJO is set to get back in action at Olympia in its Illini Prairie Conference opener at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday before returning home for a nonconference match against Blue Ridge at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. SJO will then have a quick turnaround, hitting the road for a 10 a.m. match at Chillicothe IVC on Saturday.