Cromwell, Jackson key as SJO soccer picks up three wins

The success has come in spurts at times this season for the St. Joseph-Ogden High School soccer team.

Right now, the Spartans have to like how they’re playing with three weeks left in the regular season.

SJO has won three of its last four matches heading into Thursday’s 4:30 p.m. home showdown with Illini Prairie Conference foe St. Thomas More.

SJO easily defeated Illini Prairie rival Unity 6-1 on Tuesday at home, making up for a tough 1-0 loss last Saturday at Chillicothe IVC in league play. Prior to the lengthy road trip to Chillicothe and the close defeat to the Grey Ghosts, SJO outlasted Blue Ridge for a 4-3 home nonconference win last Friday and opened Illini Prairie action with a 3-0 win at Olympia on Sept. 15.

The Spartans are now 8-6-1 overall and 2-1 in Illini Prairie play heading into Thursday’s match against STM.

Five different SJO players scored in the win against Unity, with Aiden Cromwell scoring two goals in the first half to help SJO lead 4-0 at halftime. Spenser Wilson and Brennan Haake also had first-half goals before Collin Thomey and Charlie Schmitz recorded goals in the second half. Garrett Siems, Jackson Greer, William Page and Wilson all had assists in the win that saw Hunter Ketchum finish with six saves.

SJO held a 2-0 lead against Blue Ridge in the second half thanks to goals from Jackson and Cromwell, before Blue Ridge managed to cut its deficit to 2-1. A goal from Haake bumped SJO’s lead back to 3-1, but Blue Ridge trimmed its disadvantage again as the Spartans only led 3-2 before Greer added his second goal of the match to help SJO earn the win. Greer and Page each finished with assists against Blue Ridge, while Ketchum made five saves.

Ketchum corralled 10 saves against Chillicothe IVC, but the Spartans couldn’t find the back of the net in their loss last Saturday against the Grey Ghosts.

In the win against Olympia, Cromwell scored two goals, with Haake tallying the final goal of SJO’s eventual win. Siems, Jared Emmert and Owen Baltzell each had an assist, with Ketchum (five saves in 60 minutes) and Carter Mabry (four saves in 20 minutes) combining on the shutout.

The success has come in spurts at times this season for the St. Joseph-Ogden High School soccer team.

Right now, the Spartans have to like how they’re playing with three weeks left in the regular season.

SJO has won three of its last four matches heading into Thursday’s 4:30 p.m. home showdown with Illini Prairie Conference foe St. Thomas More.

SJO easily defeated Illini Prairie rival Unity 6-1 on Tuesday at home, making up for a tough 1-0 loss last Saturday at Chillicothe IVC in league play. Prior to the lengthy road trip to Chillicothe and the close defeat to the Grey Ghosts, SJO outlasted Blue Ridge for a 4-3 home nonconference win last Friday and opened Illini Prairie action with a 3-0 win at Olympia on Sept. 15.

The Spartans are now 8-6-1 overall and 2-1 in Illini Prairie play heading into Thursday’s match against STM.

Five different SJO players scored in the win against Unity, with Aiden Cromwell scoring two goals in the first half to help SJO lead 4-0 at halftime. Spenser Wilson and Brennan Haake also had first-half goals before Collin Thomey and Charlie Schmitz recorded goals in the second half. Garrett Siems, Jackson Greer, William Page and Wilson all had assists in the win that saw Hunter Ketchum finish with six saves.

SJO held a 2-0 lead against Blue Ridge in the second half thanks to goals from Jackson and Cromwell, before Blue Ridge managed to cut its deficit to 2-1. A goal from Haake bumped SJO’s lead back to 3-1, but Blue Ridge trimmed its disadvantage again as the Spartans only led 3-2 before Greer added his second goal of the match to help SJO earn the win. Greer and Page each finished with assists against Blue Ridge, while Ketchum made five saves.

Ketchum corralled 10 saves against Chillicothe IVC, but the Spartans couldn’t find the back of the net in their loss last Saturday against the Grey Ghosts.

In the win against Olympia, Cromwell scored two goals, with Haake tallying the final goal of SJO’s eventual win. Siems, Jared Emmert and Owen Baltzell each had an assist, with Ketchum (five saves in 60 minutes) and Carter Mabry (four saves in 20 minutes) combining on the shutout.

After Thursday’s match with St. Thomas More, the Spartans are slated to host Georgetown-Ridge Farm/Westville at 9 a.m. on Saturday before continuing Illini Prairie action next Tuesday with a 4:30 p.m. match at Bloomington Central Catholic.