Cape Central overcomes 2-goal deficit in 2nd half, beats Poplar Bluff in OT

Cape Central players celebrate an overtime goal by Bradyn Pittman, second from right, Tuesday night, April 27, 2021, at Mules Stadium in Poplar Bluff, Mo.

DAR/Brian Rosener

POPLAR BLUFF — Nineteen seconds into the second half Olivia Carda’s high volley from 23 yards sailed over the keeper and into the net, giving Poplar Bluff a two-goal lead Tuesday.

Cape Central, however, got a pair of well-placed shots into the back of the net — one that tied the game with 7 1/2 minutes remaining and another in overtime — to stun Poplar Bluff 3-2 at Mules Stadium.

“It would have been easy to give up after they scored that second goal in the first 20 seconds of the half, but the girls stuck with it, stuck to the gameplan and we were rewarded with some of those goals,” Central coach Jared Dobbs said.

Cape Central (10-4) broke through with 25 1/2 minutes left in regulation when Abbie Simon pounced on a loose ball in front of the net off a free kick from 35 yards by Daley Drum.

Simon tied it when the junior turned a fired a shot just outside the 18-yard line after a steal at midfield by Megan Maxton.

With 5 1/2 minutes left in the first overtime period, Bradyn Pittman also turned to get off a shot for the game-winner.

“We’ve got to pressure that,” Mules coach Rusty Crafton said. “That’s what we did against Jackson, giving them time. We’re giving them too much time with the ball right around the box. We can’t do that.”

The Mules (9-9) took the lead on Madalyn Berry’s penalty kick in the first half before Carda scored her 10th of the season.

“We just got to be able to hold leads,” Crafton said. “When we get to that district tournament time we’ve got to hold leads.

“Maybe we can learn from this experience.”

A night after losing 5-0 at Jackson, the Mules suffered their third straight loss.

The Tigers were also coming off a game Monday, winning 3-1 at Fredericktown.

Simon peppered the front of Poplar Bluff’s goal with crosses from the right side but the Mules were able to turn them away. In the closing minute of regulation, Simon connected with Pittman, who got a head on the ball at the near post but Poplar Bluff keeper Nevaeh Larkins made a chest-high save.

Larkins stopped 11 shots but had no chance for either of Central’s late goals.

“We talked at halftime about testing the goalkeeper, just putting shots on frame, making the goalkeeper make a save,” Dobbs said.

“Abbie’s second shot was a laser and Bradyn’s game winner was definitely well deserved. She played with a lot of intensity, a lot of desire, a lot of heart.”

The Tigers had the first scoring opportunity in overtime but Larkins got to the crossing pass first. Pittman then missed the crossbar with a shot before the Tigers earned a corner that was whistled stopped on a handball.

Poplar Bluff made a run in overtime when Carda pushed up the right side but her crossing volley went untouched. The Mules had a free kick from 35 yards but also came up empty.

“I think we were dead tired,” Crafton said.

Berry scored her second penalty of the season with 17 minutes left in the first half when the junior beat the keeper to the left side.

With the wind at their backs in the first half, the Mules couldn’t take advantage.

Carda had a shot stopped by keeper Demi Drum with a diving save with 12 minutes left in the half but Carda flicked a shot in to start the second half.

Poplar Bluff nearly added a third goal seven minutes into the second half off a free kick. Zoe Savat’s shot from 30 yards was poked away from Lilly Johnson by Drum, who gobbled up the rebound.

Central beat the Mules 2-1 to open the season and improved to 2-0 in overtime games.

Poplar Bluff fell to 7-2 when scoring twice, also losing to Hannibal 5-2. The Mules have only won once when allowing two or more goals.

“We just got to come together as a team and learn from our mistakes from this game,” Crafton said.