CAPE, JACKSON TO SQUARE OFF IN DISTRICT SOCCER TITLE GAME

POPLAR BLUFF -- Third-seed Cape Central kept alive its drive for a sixth straight district championship with a 3-2 semifinal win over host Poplar Bluff, seeded No. 2, in Class 4A, District 1 action Tuesday.

The Tigers, now 10-12-4, advance to face top-seed Jackson in the district final Thursday at 5:30 p.m. The Indians (13-3-6) shut out fourth-seed Sikeston 2-0 in an earlier match.

The Tigers never trailed in their game, taking a 1-0 lead on a free kick just outside the penalty box by Bryan Welker. Bluff knotted the score before halftime to make it 1-1.

In the opening minute of the second half, Nathan Gibbar put the Tigers ahead for good, scoring on a penalty kick. Ten minutes later Justin McMullen scored on an assist from Welker to make the score 3-1.

Bluff scored about 10 minutes later, but the Tigers held on to advance.

"We both had good scoring opportunities in the last few minutes," said Central coach Tom Doyle. "It was a good, hard-fought game.

For the Indians, Brandon Blattel had a goal and an assist and Paul Johns scored the other goal in the first half to push the Indians into the championship final.

David Diebold had the assist on Blattel's goal. Jackson outshot Sikeston 35-10.

"They packed their box pretty deep and we had a hard time getting the ball in the net," said Jackson coach Bonnie Knowlan. "We also had a couple players step up for some starters that didn't play."

Knowlan is expecting her team to be at full-strength for Thursday's final against Central.

Class 1A-3A, District 1

WASHINGTON -- The second-seeded Notre Dame Bulldogs advanced to the semifinals of their district tournament at St. Francis Borgia and gained a measure of revenge with a 5-1 win over Affton Tuesday.

The Bulldogs (15-4-5) pounded Affton, which had knocked Notre Dame out of the tourney last year.

"This was a very satisfying win," said Notre Dame coach Brad Wittenborn. "To come back and even things up with Affton after last year ... it's very satisfying."

Notre Dame's Mark Burley shut down Affton's Mark Alonzo, who scored twice against the Bulldogs last year. Alonzo did not score in the contest.

Jason Garner scored twice with one assist and Jonathon LeGrand and Tommy Wencewicz both had two assists. Notre Dame never trailed in the game and led 2-1 at the half.

Cory Elfrink, Zach Miller and Ryan Fenwick had the other goals for Notre Dame. The Bulldogs play the winner of a late game between No. 3 Eureka and No. 6 Windsor at 6 p.m. Thursday.