Cape Central girls soccer team hangs tough, falls to Poplar Bluff

Marissa Burroughs wasted no time on her free kick Saturday.

The Poplar Bluff senior put down the ball and didn't wait for the Central players to prepare.

Burroughs sent a line drive into the far upper corner of the goal for the eventual winning score in the fifth-seeded Mules' 2-1 victory over the Tigers in a Class 3 District 1 girls soccer quarterfinal at Jackson Junior High.

"Usually I ask for my 10 [yards], but coach Waddell was telling me one day at practice that I don't need to ask for my 10 and I need to locate my keeper," Burroughs said. "She wasn't even paying attention, so I just hit it."

The advice from Poplar Bluff coach Jamie Waddell proved invaluable.

Central midfielder Kristen Begley, left, and Poplar Bluff's Elizabeth Boyher chase a loose ball during Saturday's Class 3 District 1 quarterfinal in Jackson. (ADAM VOGLER)

"We watched film on Wednesday, and I talked to her and told her any time there's a free kick, don't ask for your 10 yards," he said. "Put the ball down, locate the keeper and shoot it. I asked her when she came off at halftime how did she score, and she said she located the keeper and didn't wait for the keeper."

The fourth-seeded Tigers (10-13-1) were whistled for a push just to the left of the box. They started retreating to set up their defense, but Burroughs hurriedly stepped up and converted the free kick.

"I think we were a little surprised on the call, and we just dropped our heads," Central coach Dan Martin said. "What a great shot. She couldn't have placed that any better. It was phenomenal."

The team taking the free kick can ask the referee to make the defending team back up at least 10 yards from the spot of the free kick. But Burroughs didn't want to waste time as the final seconds in the half ticked away.

"I think that we expected to have some time to turn and face," Central senior Megan Daly said. "Usually people call for the 10 yards. I don't know if we were expecting the buzzer to buzz or what."

Central midfielder Megan Daly goes up for a header during Saturday's game in Jackson.

The Tigers dismissed the idea that Burroughs' goal in the final minute of the first half zapped their energy.

"I liked what we were doing, coming at them and attacking from the outside and trying to go to the inside," Martin said about his attitude at halftime. "That was the game plan, and they stuck to it."

Central jumped ahead on a goal by Daly about midway through the first half. She took a throw-in by Molly Martin and split the Poplar Bluff defense before beating Poplar Bluff keeper Courtney Raulston.

"Early on, I think we were ready," Daly said. "We came out really pumped up."

But Poplar Bluff evened the score about three minutes later. Central keeper Apple Thomas knocked the ball into the net after Elizabeth Boyer controlled a rebound off the post and got off a low shot.

Central forward Abby Shupert, right, and Poplar Bluff's Kaysie Tisdale go after a loose ball Saturday.

"A tough ball to actually try to score because you're watching the flight of the first one, then it hits the post and you've got to turn and react," Waddell said. "I thought she did a great job of keeping the ball low."

Thomas bent over at the waist as her teammates tried to encourage her from the sideline after the goal. Her head still was down when play resumed.

The Tigers proved the aggressors in the second half. They created solid scoring chances but couldn't capitalize. Brooke Evans shot just wide left less than four minutes into the second half, and Daly slammed a shot over the goal midway through the second half.

"With our new coach, we practiced a lot of passing to feet and swinging it from midfield to defense to midfield to forward and then back," Daly said. "Just movement. Lately we've been really good at taking it to the sides and carrying it and crossing. I think that's how we managed to keep possession of the ball most game."

Poplar Bluff advanced to face top-seeded Jackson in Monday's 5 p.m. semifinal. The Indians defeated the Mules 2-0 in Poplar Bluff last month, and Burroughs anticipates another close game.

Central defender Megan Myers and Poplar Bluff's Kacee Kimbrow battle for position Saturday.

"I think we have it," she said. "If we play hard and play physical and want it, we've got it in the bag. If we show up and not want to play, we're not going to get it."