The Jackson and Jefferson middle school soccer teams met on Sept. 21 at Willowbrook High School for the annual District 45 Crosstown Classic, drawing students, families and friends to watch under the lights.
The Jefferson Wildcats scored first, but the Jackson Jaguars answered just before halftime to tie the game at 1.
Both teams created chances in the second half, while strong goalkeeping kept the score even. Jefferson head coach Ronnie Bent praised Jackson’s play.
“Jackson’s ability to move and pass the ball kept us on the defensive for a majority of the time,” Bent said.
Jefferson eighth-grader David Diaz broke the tie in the second half, scoring what proved to be the winning goal in a 2-1 Wildcats victory.
For Jefferson eighth-grader and team captain Oliver Mata, the crowd added to the excitement of the Crosstown Classic, a District 45 tradition dating to 2008.
“It’s exciting with that many fans watching you,” Mata said.
Jackson head coach Maryjane Neri said the Jaguars look forward to facing their crosstown rivals each year.
“They love playing under the lights and playing on their future high school field,” Neri said.
Mata said he entered the game confident in his teammates after the Wildcats practiced fundamentals and reviewed their plays ahead of the matchup.
“I was really excited when the whistle blew, and we got to get our trophy,” Mata said.
Thank you to the Jackson and Jefferson staff who helped make the event possible and to the families who support our student-athletes. Thank you to Willowbrook High School for hosting us. Congratulations to both teams and their coaches!