Prep beats JA for soccer title

Jackson Prep soccer has been one of the state’s elite girls’ soccer programs and that continued Monday night, as the Patriots defeated rival Jackson Academy 3-0 in the MAIS Division I state championship game. 

The Patriots had a great season from start to finish, concluding the season with a 17-2-1 overall record and went undefeated against teams from Mississippi.

“Our six seniors have been our leaders all season long,” Jackson Prep Head Coach Jon Marcus Duncan said. “The leadership that they have given to our younger girls and the platform that they’ve built is just phenomenal.”

As for the game tonight, the Patriots came out firing early in the first half, as Anna Impastato scored a long goal that deflected off of another play to open the scoring. 

Impastato found the next again within the first 15 minutes of the game, giving her two goals on the night. Even as a sophomore, she contributed in a big way and got the momentum rolling for Jackson Prep early and often.

““She’s been an unsung hero for us this year and it’s usually someone that steps up like that in a state championship game,” Duncan said. “She’s the glue for us, she does a lot of the dirty work for us, she works extremely hard and has a great attitude.”

Senior Emma Reeves added the third goal of the half for Jackson Prep, bringing the Patriot lead to 3-0 with eight minutes left in the first half.

From that point on, Jackson Prep’s defense was the star of the show, dominating and holding their lead at 3-0 on their way to another state title 

“Defensively, we knew we had to limit their set pieces and be solid on clears,” Duncan said. “We had to be patient in the one-on-one situations defensively and I think all of our girls did a great job of that tonight.”

This title makes 15 girls’ soccer state titles for Duncan, after he already became Mississippi’s winningest coach in state history earlier this year.

That is now 30 total state titles for Duncan as a head coach, with 15 of the titles coming from the Boys’ team as well.

Throughout the years, Duncan has coached a lot of great players, but has especially had the privilege of coaching his two daughters in their high school soccer careers.

His youngest daughter, Abby, is a senior on this year’s state championship team.

“Coaching your daughter is just so rewarding, it really is,” Duncan said. “Our attitudes are so similar, she gets me, I get her, it’s just so amazing. It was tough day for me emotionally knowing it was the last time that I would get to coach her, but it’s been special to me regardless.”

Even with the loss of those very key seniors, this Jackson Prep program is set up to succeed for years to come.