Central upends ND 3-2 in overtime

~ Brooks Osburn netted the winning goal for the Tigers.

On paper, defending Class 2 state champion Notre Dame probably rated the favorite Tuesday night.

But, as Cape Girardeau Central coach Tom Doyle said: "Throw the records out when we play Notre Dame or Jackson. It doesn't matter.

"I told them last night, 'Guys, if I have to pump you up for this game, you're in the wrong sport.'"

Both soccer teams appeared sufficiently pumped for the rivalry contest as they combined for four goals -- two by each squad -- in the opening 14 minutes.

Central's Brooks Osburn tried to kick the ball away from Notre Dame defenders Chris McMillan, left, and Nick Wren with Ryan Willen behind them in the first half Tuesday night at Central High School. (Fred Lynch)

There was no more scoring until host Central found the net in overtime for a thrilling 3-2 victory.

"It's not like we got beat by a bad team. We got beat by a good team in a game where we played pretty well," Notre Dame coach Brad Wittenborn said. "It was a fun game, except for losing."

Notre Dame fell to 14-3-1, while Central improved to 11-9-1.

The Tigers also pushed their SEMO Conference record to a first-place 6-0, although they still have to play state-ranked Jackson on Thursday at home and visit state-ranked Notre Dame in an Oct. 17 rematch.

"We've played some very good competition," said Doyle, who added that Central has already faced seven teams ranked among the state's top 15. "We've lost six games by one goal and three games by two goals."

Central players celebrated their overtime win.

The Tigers made sure that this time a one-goal decision went their way.

With about one minute remaining in the first of what could have been two 10-minute sudden-death overtime periods, Central senior Brooks Osburn scored the winning goal.

Osburn took a nice pass from junior Jesse Lawrence and tapped the ball into the net from just a few feet away as he beat Notre Dame sophomore keeper Ryan Bass.

It was Osburn's second goal of the game, both off assists from Lawrence, who scored Central's other goal.

"I can't even describe Jesse's hustle," Osburn said. "He set up both my goals. I was just there to pick up the trash."

On the deciding goal, which came after a scramble, Lawrence found himself with the ball along the left side of the net at a bad angle.

"I saw the ball went around a defender. I didn't really have an angle on the goal so I passed it off," Lawrence said.

Notre Dame junior Brock Dirnberger opened the scoring less than two minutes into the contest, off an assist from senior Ryan Willen.

About a minute later, Central tied the score at 1-1 on Osburn's first goal off Lawrence's assist.

Less than two minutes after that, Notre Dame went back ahead as Dirnberger scored again, with senior Ty Williams assisting.

At the 14-minute mark, Lawrence concluded the early flurry with an unassisted goal that forged a 2-2 tie.

"Both teams came out hard," Osburn said.

Said Doyle: "Three goals in the first two, three minutes ... I would have never believed that, with both defenses."

The game remained wide-open and entertaining for the large crowd at Central, but neither squad scored again in regulation.

Both teams had several golden opportunities. Some of them ended on misfires, while some of them ended with impressive saves by the keepers, Bass for Notre Dame and senior Clayton Uptain for Central.

"It was a great game," Osburn said.