Mattie Huff strikes twice to lead Cape Central girls soccer past Poplar Bluff
Cape Girardeau Central girls soccer coach Jared Dobbs calls Mattie Huff a dynamic player. She showcased that explosiveness Tuesday.
Huff was at the center of both Central's goals, assisting on the first tally then sealing the win with a late goal, and the host Tigers defeated Poplar Bluff 2-0 in a SEMO Conference matchup.
"Mattie's just a dynamic player, a game-changer," Dobbs said about the junior. "She always puts herself in good situations to try to test the goalkeeper. She had, I think, 10 of our team's 19 shots tonight. Her last goal was a nice, great shot over the outstretched arms of the goalkeeper."
After falling 6-2 to Fredericktown on Monday, Central (4-8-1, 3-1 SEMO Conference) bounced back with a solid defensive effort, limiting the Mules (4-14, 0-4) to seven shots and recording its second shutout of the season.
Freshman Emma Winkler patrolled the back line as the Tigers' sweeper, and goalkeeper Maddy Davie finished with four saves and had to deal with several crosses into the penalty area.
"It's a confidence booster for everybody, especially the defense and especially the goalkeeper, but for the entire team," Dobbs said of the shutout. "It takes all 11 players on the field to work for a shutout. So yeah, we're pleased with it."
Poplar Bluff started fast with Zoe Savat stealing the ball from a Tiger defender and motoring down the left side of the field before shooting wide of the goal. That ended up being one of the visitors' best chances of the game.
Central settled in and took the lead with 31 minutes, 2 seconds remaining in the half. Emily Webb's throw-in put Huff in space down the right side and she found Payton Alexander with a cross to the 6-yard box. The midfielder had time to settle the ball and then deposited it in the back of the net.
"A striker can't just run down the spine of the field," Dobbs said. "She has to make dynamic runs to the outer third, and that's what Mattie did. Got a great ball from Emily Webb, made a cross to the inside and Payton is right there to slam it home."
Poplar Bluff goalkeeper Shelby Sievers made several spectacular saves in the opening 40 minutes to keep Central's lead at one, including two saves on 1-v-1 opportunities.
Things didn't get any better for the Mules with starter Brylee Misner going down with an injury late in the first half. She didn't return.
Central continued to create the better opportunities in the second half, out-shooting the Mules 10-3. Huff hit the crossbar 15 minutes into the half on a shot from the edge of the 18-yard box, a precursor to what was to come.
Poplar Bluff failed to connect on several crosses with the Tigers stepping in the way to clear the danger or the ball eluding the reach of the Mules' attackers.
The Mules' first shot of the second half came with 6:35 remaining as Davie had to deal with bodies in front of her to make a save on a free kick.
Central had chances to add onto the lead, but Poplar Bluff defender Ady Kingree made a goal-line clearance and the Tigers mis-hit a couple of shots in front of goal.
The second goal came in the 79th minute, as Huff cut inside and found space on her right foot to rocket the ball past Sievers and into the top right corner of the net.
"The girls kept knocking on the door," Dobbs said. "We're putting ourselves in good situations to put the ball in the back of the net."
Central returns to the field at 5 p.m. Thursday, facing Class 3 District 1 foe North County on the road.
Poplar Bluff, which lost 10-0 to Jackson on Monday, continues its stretch of three games in three days, traveling to Jonesboro, Arkansas, to face Valley View High School at 4:30 p.m. today.