CENTRAL CRUSHES JACKSON

The Cape Girardeau Central High School boys soccer team scored early and often as the Tigers blew the rival Jackson Indians away 8-0 Tuesday night.

The contest, played at the Southeast Missouri State University intramural fields at Sprigg and Bertling, was the season opener for both squads.

Central got goals from seven different players, which pleased and surprised coach Tom Doyle.

"So far we've had some trouble scoring in practices and scrimmages." said Doyle. "It doesn't seem like we can get the ball in the goal, but tonight we came out, did everything right and the shots went in."

Central forward Cody Hill led the way with two first-half goals, which helped stake the Tigers to a 6-0 halftime lead. Also scoring for the Tigers were Jon Mark Thompson, Paul Miller, Bret McNabb, Whit Lynn, Chris Cole and Nathan Foley.

Tigers' goalkeeper Trevor Blattner recorded the shutout.

Foley thrilled the home crowd with a 40-yard kick from midfield which looped over the Jackson goalkeeper's outstretched arms and nestled in the net for a score.

Jackson could get nothing going offensively for most of the game and, when the Indians did have scoring opportunities, the shots seemed to go either wide or high of the goal.

"We didn't come out ready to play," said Jackson's first-year coach Zack Walton. "That was obvious in the first few minutes, then we made some dumb mistakes inside the penalty box that cost us a couple of goals. We just didn't do a lot of smart things tonight."

Both teams resume play Thursday in the annual Notre Dame Soccerfest.