NOTRE DAME NABS SECOND STRAIGHT SOCCER CROWN

ST. LOUIS -- For the second straight season, Notre Dame High's boys soccer team can call itself district champion.

The top-seeded Bulldogs defeated second-seeded and host Lutheran South 2-0 Monday afternoon in the title game of the Class 1A-3A, District 1 Tournament.

Notre Dame, now 21-4-1, advances to Saturday night's sectional game at the Anheuser Busch Conference & Sports Centre in Fenton. The Bulldogs will likely take on perennial power St. Mary's, the state's top-ranked team."We actually didn't play one of our better games, but it feels good to win district again," said Notre Dame coach Brad Wittenborn. "I'm real proud of the guys."The Bulldogs scored the only goal they would need just four minutes into the game on a penalty kick by Oliver Sanders. The play was set up when Adam Obermiller took a pass from Sanders and was hauled down in the penalty box.

Notre Dame led 1-0 at halftime. The Bulldogs scored an insurance goal 18 minutes into the second half as two freshmen teamed up. Tyler Cuba scored on an assist from Jeff Brosey."That was an impressive play by two freshmen," Wittenborn said.

Wittenborn said goalkeeper Michael Gosche, who recorded the shutout, had several nice saves while Bryan Glosemeyer also made some nice stops from his fullback position.

Class 4A, District 1Arch rivals Cape Girardeau Central and Jackson will meet Wednesday night for the championship of the 4A, District 1 Tournament being played at Southeast Missouri State University's Sprigg Street Field.

In semifinal action Monday, top-seeded Jackson routed fifth-seeded Farmington 10-1 while third-seeded Cape Central knocked off second-seeded Poplar Bluff 3-0, avenging two regular-season losses to the Mules.

Jackson (11-9-5) breezed into the final as Raju Dirnberger scored three goals and Tyler Stearns tallied twice. Also scoring were Michael Schuette, Pat Kohm, Joe Weber, Justin Vines and Matt Litzelfelner.

Kohm had three assists. Getting one assist each were Jim Sievers, Todd Shelton, Justin Green, Jon Coleman, Stuart Knowlan and Austin McDowell."It was a good game for our guys," said Jackson coach Bonnie Knowlan. "Now we look forward to a very good game Wednesday. Cape will be really tough."Cape Central (12-10-3) got two goals from Jon Mark Thompson and one from Chris Cole. Cole, Brett McNabb and Whit Lynn all had assists. Trevor Blattner recorded the shutout."We played real well as a team," said Cape Central coach Tom Doyle. "It was probably our best effort of the year."Doyle, like Knowlan, expects quite a game at 7 p.m. Wednesday for the district title. "We're 1-1-1 against each other this year," Doyle said. "It should be a great game and we'll see what happens."