Perryville boys soccer team falls to Sikeston in district title tilt

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- The Perryville boys soccer team failed to follow up one of the program's bigger wins with what would have been the biggest by far.

It wasn't for a lack of effort.

Host Perryville battled Sikeston on mostly even terms but couldn't overcome an early goal by the Bulldogs.

Top-seeded Sikeston held on for a 1-0 win over the third-seeded Pirates in Wednesday night's Class 2 District 1 championship game.

"Heartbreaker," Perryville senior standout Bryce Weibrecht said.

Sikeston's Trey Tigart, left, keeps Perryville's Alex Robinson away from the ball during the first half Wednesday.

The Pirates, in just the program's fourth year, stunned perennial power Notre Dame in Monday's semifinals to reach their first district title contest.

And the Pirates (15-9) gave about as good as they got against the Bulldogs (19-4), who also beat Perryville 1-0 during the regular season in Sikeston.

"It was a good game. We knew it would be," Perryville coach Jerry Fulton said. "We hoped it would be on our side, but we thought it would be this type of game."

Sikeston coach Doyle Noe also expected the even struggle.

"Perryville played great. They took it to us for a while," said Noe after Sikeston's first district crown since 2005. "We stayed tough. We did what we needed to do."

Perryville's Aaron Welker reacts after the Pirates' 1-0 loss to Sikeston in the Class 2 District 1 title game Wednesday in Perryville, Mo. (Kristin Eberts)

The Bulldogs scored the lone goal just 9 minutes, 29 seconds into the game.

It was delivered by all-state senior forward Hunter Williams. It was his 25th goal of the season.

A play that started when Sikeston senior keeper Michael Gipson booted a ball past midfield ended with a brilliant individual move by Williams.

Williams dribbled around two defenders and blasted a shot from point-blank range that Perryville junior keeper Nate Kinnison had no chance to stop.

"Someone sent me a good ball," Williams said. "I felt a guy on my back. I spun around him and was just one-on-one with the keeper."

Perryville's Austin Roth, right, passes around Sikeston's Josiah Bill during the first half Wednesday.

Falling behind so early was not in Perryville's game plan.

"It's never an easy job to come from behind," Fulton said.

Perryville created plenty of opportunities but never could get a great shot on goal.

That was due largely to the impressive play of the 6-foot-4 Gipson.

Gipson came out numerous times, leaping to grab crosses and long balls before a Perryville player could get to them. He also used his speed and quickness to get to several loose balls before the Pirates could.

"Their goalie played an excellent game," Fulton said. "He might have been the key factor. He's very aggressive."

Gipson notched his school-record 11th shutout of the season.

"He plays very well out of the air," Noe said. "He's very athletic and aggressive."

Weibrecht made several nice runs throughout the game, but the Pirates couldn't convert those into prime chances.

"We couldn't get the right shot on," Weibrecht said. "We had a couple of good attempts that just missed."

Sikeston nearly made it 2-0 with about seven minutes to play, but a goal was wiped out by an offsides call.

The Pirates gave their large crowd hope with about five minutes left when a Perryville player came close to reaching a loose ball right in front of the Sikeston net, only to have Gipson get there first.

That was the Pirates' last gasp before time expired.

"Perryville played a great game," Williams said. "They didn't let down."

Fulton is pleased with the progress Perryville's program continues to make despite the loss.

"First time in the finals, you can't be unhappy with second," he said. "Maybe next year we'll get it."

Weibrecht believes that might happen, even if he won't be around to participate.

"I feel this is just the start for Perryville soccer," he said. "They can only get better from here."