Perryville boys soccer team blasts Sikeston 9-0

PERRYVILLE, MO. -- While the goals poured in for Perryville, two seniors and a junior anchored a defense that made life easy for goalkeeper Luke Dobbelare.

The stout defensive leadership was on display as Dobbelare picked up his sixth shutout of the season without having to make a save in the Pirates' 9-0 rout of Sikeston.

"Our defense is solid all the way around, any way you look at it," Perryville coach Jerry Fulton said. "It starts with our two seniors Collin Stief and Nathan Noland and goes to our outside back Trevor Martin. They are all very big and solid guys that are all over 6 feet tall. I don't think you can find a better, stronger defense out there right now."

Stief said it was the best game he had ever seen a Pirate defense play in his high school career.

"Our defense looked really good," Stief said. "I think it kind of started with us passing the ball well to the midfield. That allowed our guys to get close to the net and really take good shots on goal. There haven't been too many games that I've been a part of where we've just completely shut down another team's offense."

Perryville midfielder Michael Volansky heads the ball over Sikeston midfielder Connor Meredith during the first half Monday, Sept. 8, 2014 in Perryville, Missouri. (Fred Lynch)

Perryville outshot Sikeston 17-0 in improving to 7-1.

It was a much different outcome than their last meeting, which came in last year's Class 2 District 1 semifinals. Perryville and Sikeston played to a tie in regulation before Perryville won 2-1 in a penalty kick shootout.

The Pirates went on to win the district before losing in the quarterfinals to St. Mary's 3-1.

The rivalry has been fierce in the past couple years, but Monday marked the last time the two teams will meet this season. They reside in different classes since the Missouri High School Activities added a fourth class in soccer. Sikeston (2-2) moved up to Class 3 with the expansion.

"I'm glad we won't have to meet them in districts or any other time this season because they're always a good and competitive team that never quits playing," Fulton said. "It was important to get this win simply because we won't have this rivalry any more in the district and we wanted to go out on top."

The Pirates scored their first goal 15 minutes into the game.

Conner Stark played a perfect throw in from Kyle Wood on the left side of the field, took one step and chipped a shot over the reach of Sikeston goalkeeper Max Ault.

Less than a minute later, Luke Schlichting took the ball to the left corner of the field and crossed it to Pablo Mattingly, who was waiting for Schlichting's pass at the penalty-shot marker. Mattingly hit a perfect one-timer past the Sikeston defenders and Ault.

"Going to the corner and setting up the cross is something we always work on," Mattingly said. "They don't always go in, but that was a perfect ball from Luke and an easy goal for me."

The Pirates added another goal just before the end of the first half.

With under a minute to play, Wood stole a pass at midfield and took it down the left sideline to the corner. Wood crossed the ball to Stark, but the ball instead bounced off a defender's head and into the back of the net, increasing the lead to 3-0 at halftime.

"I was looking for a teammate in the box and it just so happened that one of their defenders tipped it and it just happened to go in," Wood said. "I love taking those outside shots and seeing if they can go in. Tonight I was happy it went in."

In the Pirates' halftime huddle, Fulton told his players to keep putting pressure on their opponent.

"In the past we've been in spots where we get a lead and then we want to sit back," Fulton said. "I just didn't want to see them do that. I wanted my team engaged. I didn't think we'd get that many, but it's nice to see us get refocused and ready to play for the season."

The Pirates heeded Fulton's advice and went on to score six goals in the second half.

Four minutes in Michael Volansky grabbed a rebound on Eann Bergman's shot and scored to extend the lead to 4-0.

The Pirates scored two more goals in the next two minutes.

Schlichting scored 27 seconds after Volansky, who provided the assist. One minute later, Bergman got a goal of his own on a head pass from Schlichting.

"We're finally playing more as a team," Schlichting said. "We're dropping the selfishness and just falling in together as a team. It's not about one guy getting a goal, we want everyone to score."

With three minutes to play, Wood scored his second goal on another cross that looked similar to his first goal.

"That's the way I like to do it," Wood said. "If I can get it into a box to one of our guys that's great, but if not, there is always that chance it's going to go in."

Strief was also part of the offense for the Pirates, scoring a goal with three minutes to play.

"I don't get many of those so it's pretty nice to get one," Strief said. "The way our offense is set up and the way we're executing I expect to get some more."

Emmanuel Miranda rounded out the scoring with 1 minute, 30 seconds to play.

Fulton said he was proud of the focus the Pirates maintained throughout the game.

"We're really starting to realize our full potential as a team," Fulton said. "I think this team is focused and really ready to show teams and the district and in the state that we're hungry for more wins and ultimately a state title, but that's not going to happen unless we stay focused. Tonight was supposed to be a big test and it turned out not to be, but they did come through and made big plays."