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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

NORTH SHELBY – Fresh off of a tough challenge from the Hoover Bucs, the Spain Park Jaguars found themselves in another tight rivalry battle as they squared off with the No. 4 Oak Mountain Eagles.

In the end, Spain Park claimed the 1-0 win on Tuesday, April 9 at Heardmont Park to improve to 18-0 on the season.

Oak Mountain dominated the possession in the attacking third in the first five minutes before Spain Park took back control for another stretch.

Just over 10 minutes into the match, the Jags got their first couple chances of the game off set pieces, but both missed.

Then, in the 19th minute, Spain Park went on a breakaway in the counter-attack. While the Jags missed their shot, it led to a big opportunity off a corner kick.

With Addie Soehn lining up to take the corner, she sent the cross into the box and Morgan Anthony headed it out of midair straight into the goal to put the Jags up 1-0.

Both teams had their chances throughout the remainder of the half.

Oak Mountain made a crucial tackle on a Spain Park breakaway, and then three minutes later, Tatum Ahlemeyer had a shot off a cross that was saved by Ella Holt.

The up-and-down stretch continued when the Eagles passed the ball up to Kati Anne Shepherd, but the Jags cleared away that threat.

Spain Park then had another chance in the 34th minute when Ahlemeyer’s forward pass to Reese Oldfield in front of the goal led to a shot that went out for a corner kick.

Oak Mountain crossed the ball in the 38th minute and it landed right in front of the goal, but the Jags keeper collected the ball to keep the score 1-0 at halftime.

The Eagles came out of the locker room and put pressure on Spain Park with multiple set pieces and runs, including a forward ball in the 50th minute that just missed the players and goal. Shepherd then forced a save off a cross in the 57th minute.

The Jags then turned back on the pressure on the other end with more chances but Oak Mountain defended well in the back third, and in the 64th minute, it even launched a forward ball to Lauren Prier, but the cross was saved.

After Spain Park headed a corner out of bounds in the 66th minute, the Eagles had one of their best chances of the half after Shepherd headed a Raegan Whitaker throw-in to force a tough save.

While Oak Mountain handled a couple of Jags chances in the final five minutes, Spain Park saw out the last moments to finish off the 1-0 win and remain undefeated.

The Jags have just three matches remaining in the regular season as they aim to finish undefeated. Two of them are area matches with the next one coming against Hewitt-Trussville at home on Tuesday, April 16 at 5:30 p.m.

As for Oak Mountain, the Eagles will hope to continue improving in their next match against Montgomery Academy at home for senior night on Thursday, April 11 at 5 p.m.