Perryville soccer team falls to Poplar Bluff in overtime

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Perryville High School has given Poplar Bluff a tough time since the Pirates debuted their varsity soccer team in 2008.

Perryville's last visit to Whiteley Park, which came Sept. 24, 2008, resulted in a win on penalty kicks.

Tuesday's game against the Mules came awfully close to getting that far again.

With 5 minutes left in the second overtime period, Poplar Bluff sophomore Mario Ventura accepted a pass in front of the goal and buried his first career goal as the Mules won their first game against Perryville, a 2-1 decision.

There was some debate afterward if Ventura was offsides and that the linesman raised his flag, but the goal stood for the Mules' first win of the season.

"I was onside," Ventura said. "I was holding back so [Luis Rivera] could back slot me the ball."

It was a tough pill to swallow for the Pirates, especially after a loss to Sikeston on Monday night.

"I thought that we came back tonight and played with a lot of heart," Perryville coach Jerry Fulton said. "We played with a lot of intensity especially being down one and kept having to fight our way back into the game."

Rivera brought the ball down the sideline to the right of Perryville goalkeeper Cody Call. Rivera scooted a pass through the box and Ventura got a direct shot at the goal.

"When I scored I felt really happy," Ventura said. "I couldn't believe it. It was like a dream. I was confused and happy and everything at the same time."

Onside or offsides, it was just a tough way to end for Perryville who fought its way from behind.

"It's disappointing that you play for 97 minutes and lose like that," Fulton said.

The Mules (1-1) opened the scoring when Dustin Calvert beat Call on a one-on-one break with 31 minutes left in the first half.

Perryville (2-4) broke through to tie the game with 19 minutes left in the second half when Kyle Welker scored from left side of the box.

The Mules brought a lot of pressure in the early part of the first overtime period but couldn't connect a shot on goal.