It was a defeat that coach Joey Mahouchick and his Jacksonville boys\u2019 soccer team didn\u2019t like, but one that may may have been good to help the Cardinals reorganize.<\/p>\n
It was a 3-0 loss at New Bern on Oct. 2, a defeat that put Jacksonville behind in its quest for the Big Carolina 6-A\/7-A Conference title.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe played a tough nonconference schedule, got two wins in the conference and then played New Bern. The circumstances of the game and the score didn\u2019t go our way,\u201d Mahouchick said. \u201cWe tell our guys that we will get everyone\u2019s best shot every time we step onto the field. After that game, we refocused, and we have been playing good soccer since that game.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Cardinals (13-4-2, 8-1) sure have.<\/p>\n
Jacksonville has outscored its opponents 16-4 en route to winning its last six matches, including a 4-2 win over New Bern on Oct. 21. A 2-1 victory over D.H. Conley on Oct. 23 clinched a ninth consecutive conference title for the Cardinals.<\/p>\n
Jacksonville closes the regular season Thursday at J.H. Rose and then will wait until the NCHSAA releases the playoff brackets Sunday.<\/p>\n
\u201cNine in a row is pretty impressive. We will take it,\u201d Mahouchick said. \u201cWe didn\u2019t know how many we had won in a row before now, and we don\u2019t make light of it. It\u2019s one of our goals, but at the same time, we are focused on playing deep in November.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Cardinals advanced to the third round last year in Mahouchick\u2019s first season in charge. Jacksonville went to the fourth round in 2023 after playing in the state final in 2022.<\/p>\n
The club looks to again be dangerous next week.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to be good, but if we are not playing our best soccer in August and September, we are Ok with that,\u201d Mahouchick said. \u201cWe know by the end of the season, if we can stay healthy, we will be fine because everybody trusts the process.\u201d<\/p>\n
It has certainly taken everybody this season as the Cardinals don\u2019t feature a true go-to player. Instead, many players have taken turns scoring.<\/p>\n
Junior Landon Adams leads with 11 goals and nine assists, followed by senior Jude Sawyer with nine goals and five assists.<\/p>\n
Junior Noah Nantes comes in with five goals and two assists while senior Juan Meza has four goals and three assists, and seniors Chase Crawford and Parker Hansen have done well in the midfield.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe scoring has sort have been by committee,\u201d Mahouchick said. \u201cWe have multiple guys who can hurt you so the other team can\u2019t key on one guy, and we can attack in multiple ways.\u201d<\/p>\n
The backline of seniors Greyson Deupree, Ryan Hanks, junior Connor Foor and sophomore Cannon Smith along with goalkeepers, senior Braden Colley and junior Max Crandall, also contribute.<\/p>\n
The Cardinals have seven clean sheets and have allowed more than one goal only six times.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have done well in the back,\u201d Mahouchick said. \u201cFive or six games into the season, we changed formations. Our shape has really been good the last month and a half and they recover well. The first New Bern game, we got stretched, but we have been much better since then.\u201d<\/p>\n