By Mike Moore
Staff Writer
Jackson — The regular season was record breaking, and as Phillip Maurer spoke about it Tuesday afternoon, there were still a few more games to go.
But it less than a week’s time, Maurer and his Jackson soccer team will shift all focus toward a postseason run, to what the guys in orange and black hope is a playoff to remember.
“All year, we haven’t really looked ahead to the playoffs, we’ve taken things one week at a time,” Maurer said. “Well, here it is.”
Almost here, anyway.
The MHSAA soccer postseason officially launches Monday with most teams taking part in district openers.
Most of the rest kick off Tuesday.
For Jackson, there may not have ever been a team more ready, or hitting the second season with more momentum, than the 2016 group is.
The Vikings are 14-5-1 so far, and, as alluded to, have spent the better part of the season editing the program record book.
The current team holds program records for shutouts in a season (nine), goals scored in a season (75) and is tied with the 1994 team for fewest goals allowed in a season (19).
“Everything kind of fell into place with this team,” Maurer said. “Last year, I thought we had some good seniors, but we also had some guys waiting in the wings for their chance. They’ve gotten that chance and seized it this year.”
And with most of the current roster either at the junior grade, or lower, this isn’t likely to be a flash-in-the-pan season.
Nor does Maurer and his guys want it to come to an abrupt end.
“This is a group that wants to make its own destiny,” he said. “We’re in a very storng district, with some state-ranked teams, but we aren’t about to make any excuses. This is what we’ve been looking forward to all year.”
Jackson is in the Division district hosted by Saline.
The Vikings travel to Bellevue for a 5:30 p.m. match on Monday.
The winner faces Saline at 7 p.m. Oct. 18.
The other half of the bracket includes Ann Arbor Skyline, Ypsilanti Lincoln, Ann Arbor Huron and Ann Arbor Pioneer.
The final is at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 20.
“Defense was a question mark coming into the season, but the way we’ve possessed the ball has kept teams off us,” Maurer said. “I think the key for us in the playoffs is wenow we have to finish. Every game we’ve been in we’ve had opportunities, and in some of those, we haven’t finished. If we can score, we’re going to be in good position.”
Mike Moore is a play-by-play commentator and Sports Writer for JTV Sports. You can reach him at mjm12@albion.edu. He’s also the author of ‘Love, Defined; A Dedication to the Love, Sacrifice, and Magic of Motherhood.’
Love, Defined is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Tate Publishing or by contacting Mike directly.
Visit http://lovedefinedbook.weebly.com for more information.