Warriors kick offensive into high gear

CEDAR RAPIDS - The defense was as good as usual regardless of who Washington put in goal, and the offense came alive with three scores as the Warriors defeated rival Jefferson, 3-0, on the J-Hawks' senior night.

Fifth-ranked Washington (12-4, 9-4) heads into the playoffs having finished one game behind fourth-ranked Linn-Mar in the Valley division of the MVC and with a six-game winning streak. The Warriors have a first-round bye and play either Cedar Falls or Mason City next Thursday at Kingston Stadium.

'At the beginning of the season we weren't scoring many goals,” Washington Coach J.P. Graham said. 'It's coming around. We're getting good opportunities now. We're still not scoring a ton, but at least we're giving ourselves a chance.”

The Warriors' first goal came on a soaring corner from Connor Geuder to Jake Bjornsen, who headed it into the net eight minutes into the game. Bjornsen is 5-foot-8.

'But he's really tough in the air,” Graham said, smiling. 'He wins the majority of balls in the box. At this level it's more about who's willing to go get it in the air. He's one of those guys that likes it. He cherishes it, and you can see the result of it.”

'It's just timing,” Bjornsen said. 'And he played a great ball.”

Bjornsen and A.J. Patterson each had great chances to score later in the half, but were thwarted by the J-Hawk keeper.

In the second half the Warriors began to take advantage of their attacks. Alex Kennedy scored an odd goal off a goal kick from sophomore Reed Tovey, who came in early in the half in relief of starter Gunnar Lenzen, a junior who left with a strain in his side after a leaping save.

Tovey's kick was fielded by Kennedy deep in Jefferson territory, and he chipped it over the keeper's head for the goal.

'I just listened to my coach; he told me where to position myself,” Kennedy said.

Patterson scored the final goal with 10:53 left on a run down the right side where he beat his defender and the keeper to nudge the ball into the net.

'Once he picks his head up he's dangerous,” Bjornsen said.

Washington's defense was stout. It has given up only six goals in 16 games. And it has to be comforting to know that even in Lenzen's absence Washington has Tovey ready to bar the door.

Jefferson finished 4-9, 5-12 in the regular season and plays Burlington Tuesday at Kingston Stadium in a first-round tournament game.