CAPE CENTRAL TO FACE ROCKWOOD SUMMIT

The Cape Girardeau Central High School girls soccer team had its share of rough moments this season, but the Lady Tigers appear to be clicking on all cylinders now.

Rockwood Summit's Lady Falcons have been rolling along virtually the entire campaign.

So all signs point to an exciting and closely contested Class 4A Sectional game today as the squads square off at 4:30 p.m. at the Anheuser-Busch Conference & Sports Centre in Fenton, Mo.

"I look for a very good game," said Central coach Tom Doyle. "I don't know who's going to win it, but I look for it to be a one-goal game, maybe two at the most. If we play well, I think we'll be right in there."

Summit coach Mark Bayens pretty much agrees with Doyle.

"Anybody that makes it this far, you have to have a lot of respect for," said Bayens. "I've heard they have a good team and I expect a very tough game."

Central, sporting a 15-5-6 record, the Lady Tigers captured their fifth consecutive district title last week with a thrilling 1-0, four-overtime win over Jackson. The Lady Tigers advanced to the Class 4A Final Four two years ago.

Asked if these Lady Tigers just might be good enough to earn another final four berth, Doyle said, "I think we have the kind of team that's capable of it. It's just a question of how we play and if we do what we're supposed to do. We've been kind of up and down this year, but I think we're playing some of our best soccer now."

Summit, a school in its eighth year of existence, is in the sectional round for the second time, the Lady Falcons having advanced to the quarterfinals during their only other playoff appearance in 1996. Bayens said he expected his team to be strong this year.

"We knew it would be a good year," he said. "We went 15-5-3 last year and we had everybody back."

The Lady Falcons, who have dominated most of their opponents this season, feature one of the state's top scorers in Jamie Perry, who has 30 goals to go along with 11 assists. Perry has signed to play at Saint Louis University.

But Summit is not a one-dimensional offensive team. Trisha Neidenbach, who according to Bayens is one of the St. Louis area's most highly recruited midfielders, has 12 goals while Julie Berkel and Karen Marrow have each scored 11 goals.

"You can't really concentrate on just shutting down Perry because they have some other girls who can score," Doyle said.

Summit has shut out 14 of its opponents -- goalkeepers Abby Barnes and Jamie Benack each have seven shutouts -- as the Lady Falcons have allowed just 19 goals all season.

Central has some impressive performers of its own, led by all-time scoring leader Amber Voerg, who has 19 goals this season and a whopping 103 during her brilliant four-year prep career.

Trisha Klipfel has 12 goals and eight assists for Central while keeper Heather Hey, despite missing several games with an injury, has seven shutouts.

"The scouting reports I've gotten on them say they're a really good team," said Bayens. "I've heard they're a team we really need to watch out for."

Today's winner will advance to Saturday night's quarterfinals, also at the Anheuser-Busch Conference & Sports Centre. That winner will them move on to the following weekend's final four at the same site.