Maiden Soccer wins fourth-straight undefeated district championship

Mar. 14—As a result of its 9-0 victory over Palestine Thursday night, the Jacksonville High School girl's soccer team won its fourth-straight district championship, all of which have been in undefeated fashion.

The Fightin' Maidens' most recent two-district crowns were won at the Class 4A level, while the first two came when Jacksonville was competing at the Class 5A level.

"This is emblematic of how much hard work and effort you all have put into the game," Jacksonville head girl's soccer coach Colten McCown told his team at a mid-pitch meeting following the match. "The results is not just the because of a strong senior class, or that we have been lucky; its the product of all our classes over the past four years committing to excellence."

In the past three days, Jacksonville has scored a glut — 29, to be exact — of goals. On Thursday evening, Maiden-sophomore Lauren Wade punched in five of her team's goals, which according to soccerknowledgehub.com, is a glut.

Wade powered in a shot from 19 yards out, right side, at the 38:22 mark of the opening half, to get Jacksonville's scoring barrage started.

The string of unanswered Maiden goals came to an end with 16:42 left in the match when Senior Victoria Villanueva chipped in a short range shot from the left side. It was the senior's second goal of the contest.

With the playoffs right around the corner, McCown said it was his intention on putting Wade in a prime position to score goals.

"I didn't have any idea that she would go out there and score five goals," he said. "We wanted to do the things that we needed to do as a team to put Lauren in a position to score multiple goals."

In addition to Villanueva, Jacksonville's remaining seniors that were honored during Senior Night festivities before the start of the match included Alexa Medellin, Landry Harmel, Elizabeth Nava, Mia Morales, Evelyn Lara and Kelcie Dominy.

"We have benefited so much from having this bunch," McCown said. "Mia (Morales), Evelyn (Lara), Victoria (Villanueva), Alexa (Medellin) and Landry (Harmel) have been four-year starters for us."

Jacksonville (19-3-1) will open the playoffs on either March 25 or 26 by hosting either Spring Hill or Carthage in the bi-district round of the state Class 4A playoffs.

Palestine (18-6-3, 12-2) finished as the conference runner-up and will also be involved in post season play beginning late next week.