By Fred Kroner
Senior Jared Emmert and freshman Collin Thomey produced hat tricks on Saturday (Oct. 9) as St. Joseph-Ogden opened postseason play at home with an 8-0 shutout at home over Unity in an IHSA Class 1A regional quarterfinal soccer match.
Emmert also had two assists.
Jackson Greer had one goal and two assists. The Spartans’ other goal was by Owen Baltzell.
Hunter Ketchum (five saves) and Carter Mabry (two saves) combined for the shutout, the Spartans’ fifth of the season.
Fifth-seeded SJ-O (13-8-1) returns to action in the semifinals at St. Thomas More on Wednesday (Oct. 13) against fourth-seeded Monticello.
On Thursday (Oct. 7), four first-half goals were all that St. Joseph-Ogden needed in its regular-season soccer home finale.
The 4-0 margin over Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond stood up when lightning forced the second half to be called off.
Thomey scored his team-high 10th goal to get the Spartans on the board.
Before the first half ended Greer, Logan Mills and Olivia Baltzell all found the back of the net.
Emmert wound up with two assists.
Goalkeepers Ketchum (five saves) and Mabry (three saves) teamed up for the shutout.
