FIT TO BE TIED: TIGERS SALVAGE 1-1 TIE ON LUCKY BOUNCE

JACKSON -- Although Tuesday was a steamy afternoon of frustration for more than one participant in the season-opening soccer match for Cape Girardeau Central and Jackson, no one was more distraught than Jeremy Balsman.

After shutting out Central for over 79 minutes, Balsman, Jackson's senior goal keeper, allowed a fluke goal and his otherwise stellar performance ended on a sour note and in a 1-1 tie at Jackson Junior High School.

With Jackson leading 1-0, Central charged several times in vain late in the match. Then with 11 seconds remaining and the ball near the Indians' goal, a Jackson defender was called for a hand ball.

The penalty kick by Central's Nathan Gibbar, the team's second of the half, bounced squarely off the left post, hit the back of Balsman's leg and went into the net. Without the lucky bounce off Balsman with him not seeing the ball, Jackson in all likelihood would have avenged last season's opening loss to Central on penalty kicks in overtime.

No overtime was played Tuesday.

"That was just a freak thing, something you wouldn't expect," said Jackson coach Bonnie Knowlan. "That's a tough thing to tie on."

The strange ending kindled memories in Central coach Tom Doyle -- the Tigers lost to Jackson three years ago on a penalty kick with four seconds remaining.

"It's kind of funny, Jackson-Cape games are always going to be tight down to the end," Doyle said. "I felt like the last 15 to 20 minutes we really took charge. I thought Jackson controlled the first half and we controlled the second half.

Jackson's goal came in the first half, of which the Indians dominated the second half. At the 23:20 mark, Jackson's Chris Schuette moved ball up the middle of the field, shot the ball off a Central defender and Brandon Blattel controlled the ball on the right side and scored.

"They got a good break . . . and after a good stop the ball went right to one of their players, who happened to be open, and that shouldn't be," Doyle said.

In the second half, Central's Justin McMullin missed a penalty kick early on that would have tied the game, and then with about six minutes left, Balsman made a dramatic diving save on a loose ball near the goal that two Central players had a chance to score uncontested.

Obviously the two rivals are eagerly awaiting a rematch -- and it may happen soon. If Central and Jackson both win their opening matches in the first round of the Notre Dame Soccerfest Thursday, they will meet in the second round on Friday.