Central soccer team reaches district semis with 3-1 win against Mules

Central ended Poplar Bluff's soccer season for the third time in the last four years Monday night.

Central defeated the Mules 3-1 in the first round of the Class 3 District 1 tournament after Poplar Bluff tied the score early in the second half.

The host Tigers used an unconventional goal and a penalty kick to snap the deadlock and move into today's semifinal against top-seeded Jackson.

"They came out the second half knowing that the loser is out," Central coach Dan Martin said. "They are going to come at you. Bluff does a good job at that. We've played Bluff earlier twice, and it's been one-goal games. We knew it wasn't going to be easy tonight."

Central (8-14) didn't wait long to get on the scoreboard against the Mules, who entered riding a five-game losing streak.

Central sophomore Matt Chism, right, tries to tip a ball away from Poplar Bluff's Justin Miller during the first half of their Class 3 District 1 game Monday at Central High School. (Rob Tate ~ Daily American Republic)

Senior Austin Shupert scored from about 15 yards out in front of the net just a minute and a half into the game.

"It's nice," Martin said about getting the early lead. "We are struggling as well, and to get an early goal always helps out. Weird goal, but we'll take it in district play."

Poplar Bluff coach Jamie Waddell was disappointed but not surprised with the early deficit.

"It's how we've been for the last two games," Waddell said. "We didn't have urgency. We were just out there. Cape had home-field advantage. They didn't want their season to end."

The rest of the half mostly was played in the midfield.

Poplar Bluff (6-14-1) nearly tied the score about nine minutes into the second half when junior Francis Esquivel beat a defender one-on-one to Austin Bagley's right, but the Tigers goalkeeper made the save.

The Mules got the equalizer a minute later.

Bagley made an initial save on a shot, but Esquivel kept after the rebound and got it away from Bagley and put it into the empty net.

Waddell wasn't positive if the goalkeeper had control of the ball, but was happy the ruling stood after a brief discussion by the officials.

"My angle, he was kind of batting it around a little bit," Waddell said. "I can't give a definite answer on it."

Martin wasn't 100 percent sure either, but he credited Esquivel for his persistence.

"You've got to keep going after that," Martin said. "We've got to do a better job securing it. They were fighting to get there."

Central scored just less than two minutes after Esquivel's goal. The ball found the net on a throw-in that hit a Mules player.

Tigers sophomore Ethan Groshong was credited with the goal and Zach Casey got the assist.

"I saw it bouncing and somehow went in," Martin said. "It was tough to see from my angle."

Central then opened a two-goal cushion when Chandler Bagley scored on a penalty kick after he was tripped in the box with 20 minutes, 22 seconds remaining.

"That was a good play by Chandler Bagley to get down the end line and get in the box," Martin said. "Then the foul came. Then to get up and put the ball in the net, that's a big goal."

Central faces Jackson at 5 p.m. today. The Indians have outscored the Tigers 10-0 in their three meetings this season.

"We've got to figure out how to score on them," Martin said.