Mules soccer downs Sikeston, onto district semis

The Poplar Bluff Mules soccer team cruised by Sikeston on Saturday in the opener of the Class 3 District 1 Tournament at Hillsboro High School.

The Mules took down the Bulldogs 5-0 behind a pair of goals from Alec Papanicolou and Colten Palma while Blaise Rowland also added a goal.

Darrius Wallace had nine saves in goal for Poplar Bluff as he recorded the clean sheet.

Mules head coach Rusty Crafton said he was pleased with how they started the postseason.

“We just came out and were firing on all cylinders,” he said. “Everything was gelling together.”

Poplar Bluff now advances to a matchup with top-seeded Farmington, the same team they took down a week ago in a 1-0 thriller at Mules Stadium when Palma scored the lone goal to propel his team to victory.

Crafton said he knew this was going to be the matchup.

“I think we still have a job to do,” he said. “We’re still trying to prove people wrong. I think they’re still a little upset they got the No. 4 seed but it’s going to all work out. In the end, it all works itself out.”

The Mules now have 15 wins on the year, the most in many years for the

program.

Crafton said they still have work to do before they can celebrate.

Poplar Bluff and Farmington will kick-off at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Hillsboro in the semifinals. Cape Central and Notre Dame will play in the second semifinal at 7 p.m.

The district championship is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday at Hillsboro.