Seniors recall memories, Blue Jay soccer team gets win No. 7

JAMESTOWN — Ellie Krueger has a lot of memories surrounding Rotary Field.

"My first game here, I was an eighth grader and I was very scared," Krueger, a senior for the Jamestown High School soccer team, said. "That's pretty much all I remember — really very nervous. I have been on the team for five years and it's weird to be the senior. I don't really feel like I am a senior. It's the halfway point of the season and it's kind of setting in that I am almost done with soccer."

Her senior night ranked among some of her top memories.

Krueger and the Blue Jays capped off their three-game week with a 3-0 defeat of Bismarck St. Mary's. Jamestown's record now stands at 7-1-1. Head coach Colton Altringer and company will be back at Rotary Field on Tuesday hosting Bismarck Legacy beginning at 7 p.m.

Krueger has been playing soccer for 15 years. The outside back has been a part of the Blue Jay varsity roster since her eighth grade season. She has plans to attend Aurora University next year where she will play both soccer and hockey.

"I've never seen a kid with a motor like her," JHS head coach Colton Altringer said of Krueger. "It's just non-stop. Sometimes it gets her in trouble because she always wants to go forward and kick and run but a lot of times it does help us as a team.

"She's a threat both ways — defensively she can outrun you and get the ball back but she can also blow by defenders in the attacking half," he said "She's a very difficult player to prep against because she can just be anywhere.

Krueger is one of two seniors playing for the Blue Jays this season. Nevaeh Romfo has been a part of Jamestown's soccer program for the past six years.

"I remember I got hit in the face by Hannah Sjostrom," Romfo recalled of her first game with a chuckle. "Like square in the face. That was all I remember."

Romfo has played for the varsity program for the past two seasons.

"Our two seniors — they are a small group but they are a great group," Altringer said. "I have coached them for three years now and it's been fun watching them grow — not just on the field but as individuals off the field. They both bring something very different to the table ... but they both have that grit and they won't quit, they won't stop fighting for their teammates.

"They both play great roles for us," he said. "The fact that they can be a part of this program and show our underclassmen what it takes to be a part of this team is great."

Prior to moving to Jamestown, Romfo was a part of Minot's soccer program. The senior has been playing soccer for a total of 10 years.

"She's an energy leader for us," Altringer said of Romfo. "She leads from the front, she leads by example and she's going to be the hardest worker on the field which is a great character trait. I love having the kid."

Working hard was necessary for the win.

Games on Tuesday and Thursday made for a bit of a slower start for the Jays on Friday. The two teams traded shots for the first 16 minutes before Hadley Jackson landed one in off an assist from Amelia Newman. The score remained 1-0 for the rest of the half.

"Overall it went well," Altringer said. "I told the girls going into this game that this is a state tournament type of week. That's going to be what we should be expecting if we are trying to win State or compete for a higher spot is that grind.

"Our girls did very well," he said. "At times you saw the fatigue set in and there was a little bit of sluggishness as well but the girls adapted very well. Things weren't going well, we weren't finding the back of the net and in the last five minutes we found two goals so that perseverance did pay off. I think that shows the grit these girls have."

Newman scored the Blue Jays' second goal of the night in the 76th minute. Briella Martin put the final nail in the coffin two minutes later.

"It was our spacing," Altringer said. "We were finally able to find that diagonal ball and draw defenders out and we were able to find that space in the middle. All three of our goals today came from drawing the defenders out.

"... I think we are going to peak at the right moment if we keep on this trajectory," he said.

Jamestown 3, St. Mary's 0

SM 0 0 — 0

JHS 1 2 — 3

Scoring

First half

1. JHS, Hadley Jackson (Amelia Newman), 16th minute.

Second half

2. JHS, Amelia Newman (Briella Martin) 76th minute; 3. JHS, Briella Martin (unassisted), 78th minute.

Goalkeeper saves: St. Mary's, Savannah Schweitzer, 6; Jamestown, Anna Lunde, 1

Shots on goal: St. Mary's 1; Jamestown 9

Katie Ringer is a sports reporter for the Jamestown Sun. Katie joined the Sun staff in the summer of 2019 after graduating from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire with a degree in journalism. She can be reached by email at kringer@jamestownsun.com or by phone at 701-952-8460.