Tigers kick open door to Class 4A sectional

Both teams played like champions, but Cape Central's 1-0 win over archrival Jackson gave the Tigers the Class 4A, District 1 crown at the SEMO Intramural Soccer Field Friday.

"We knew, coming in, that it was going to be a battle," said Cape Central coach Tom Doyle, whose team improved to 23-3-1. "Fortunately for us, we were the one to put the ball in the back of the net."

The Tigers' game-winning goal came at the 13-minute mark of the first half.

Midfielder Jon Mark Thompson, deep in Cape Central's end of the field, hit a wide-open Arthur Pilsner, streaking down the right wing, with a long pass.

Taking the ball in stride, Pilsner found himself one-on-one with Jackson goalie Austin McDowell and fired a strike into the lower left corner of the net for the game's only goal.

Said Pilsner, a senior forward, "I was just going to hit it and hope I hit the goal. It worked out."

Jackson (13-10) took it to the state's seventh-ranked Tigers in the second half, outshooting them nine to six and getting the better scoring opportunities.

"We were just unlucky," said Jackson coach Zack Walton. "The ball wouldn't go. We had several opportunities there and we just couldn't finish.

"The boys played with a lot of heart tonight; they didn't leave anything out there."

The match marked the third win this season for Cape Central over the Indians, all shutouts.

Cape Central goalie Trevor Blattner recorded the shutout, his 11th of the season, despite missing seven games with injuries. Blattner had nine saves, while Jackson's McDowell stopped four.

Blattner believes the Tigers are a team of destiny.

"I really do," said Blattner. "I think we've got a good shot this year."

Cape Central will meet DeSmet, the state's fifth-ranked team, at the Anheuser-Busch Soccer Complex in Fenton, Mo., Tuesday at 5 p.m. in a sectional contest.

The Tigers suffered a few injuries and dings in the tough, physical contest, but Doyle hopes a day or two of rest will allow the wounded time to heal.

The most serious were sophomore sweeper Josh Fee's hip injury and sophomore defender Aaron Bornstein, who incurred a slight concussion.