Jackson grabs soccer district title with goal in final minute

Alex Sotak's perfectly placed free kick in the final 65 seconds Wednesday kept the Class 3 District 1 soccer title in Jackson.

The freshman's volley from just outside the right edge of the 18-yard line sailed over the fingertips of Poplar Bluff's keeper but under the crossbar, lifting the Indians to a 2-1 win and their ninth consecutive title.

"That was a bullet," said Jackson senior Hannah Roach, who scored a first-half goal. "It was the best shot. There's no way that goalie, any goalie I think, could have got that."

The top-seeded Indians rallied after giving up a goal in the first 5 minutes to the second-seeded Mules, keeping their streak of district titles intact.

"After eight years, we don't want to be the one," senior Kelsey Bierman said.

BRIAN ROSENER ~ Daily American RepublicABOVE: Jackson players react after receiving the championship trophy following a 2-1 win over Poplar Bluff in the Class 3 District 1 championship game Wednesday.BELOW: Jackson's Jordan Myer works around a Poplar Bluff defender during their game Wednesday in Jackson.

Jackson (17-4) will play the District 2 champion -- Francis Howell North or Pattonville -- at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the A-B Center in Fenton, Mo.

The Indians last won a state playoff game in 2003, a quadruple-overtime win.

"We've come close," senior goalie Morgan Riddick said. "It's a little hump but we're going to be ready for it."

Poplar Bluff (16-5-2) was ready for its first district final appearance less than 21 hours after winning the semifinal in double overtime.

In the fifth minute, Poplar Bluff's Jenni Hubbard sent a free kick near midfield into the box. Jackson goalie Brooke Sanders came out to meet it, but the junior couldn't secure the ball. After a scramble, Marissa Burroughs came away with a 1-0 lead.

"That was a wake-up call for us," Jackson coach Justin McMullen said.

The Indians put pressure on the Mules the rest of the half, including three corners, but couldn't crack Poplar Bluff keeper Courtney Knuckles, who stonewalled Jackson.

With halftime looming, Poplar Bluff played a high volley into the box. Sanders and forward Karisa Coleman collided, knocking the junior out of the game.

Minutes later, the game was tied.

"We just keep pushing," Riddick said. "We wanted it bad. As seniors we didn't want to go out. We wanted to win that."

Roach pushed through the middle of the field, angling toward the far corner with three defenders giving chase. The senior was able to get a step inside the 18 and got off a shot across her body to the opposite post.

"It was just the best angle I had in that [Knuckles] was going more right and I snuck it in the left," Roach said.

The halftime whistle blew just 90 seconds later.

"That two minutes seems like the longest two minutes," Poplar Bluff coach Derek Reasons said.

Jackson wore down the Mules in the second half and had the majority of the scoring chances.

In the 50th minute, Sotak saved the ball from going out of bounds at midfield and Roach sent a cross into the box to Erin Eakens. The sophomore was able to beat Knuckles with a move to the left but a tough angle forced the shot to the side of the net.

Five minutes later, Sotak got a steal at midfield and forced Knuckles to make a diving save.

"I felt like the game was won and lost mainly in the midfield," Reasons said. "That's where all the momentum will swing."

Poplar Bluff had a shot to take the lead with 15 minutes left but Burroughs missed the far post with her shot. The Mules sent another cross in front of the net a minute later but Riddick got to it first.

With overtime looming, the Mules were called for a hand ball just outside the penalty box, setting up Sotak's shot.

"That was as good as it gets right there," McMullen said. "A minute left in the game and you're thinking, 'It's now or never.' Overtime comes and it's a momentum shift, who knows gets it first.

"It was definitely one of those things where it was the game right there."