Semoball

Poplar Bluff's Sophie Rowland scores 5 goals

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Sophie Rowland nearly earned a double hat trick.

The senior midfielder for Poplar Bluff scored five goals against Springfield Parkview as the Mules won 6-3 to earn their first win since their season opener.

“It was a good win for us, good for morale going into next week,” said Poplar Bluff coach Rusty Crafton, highlighting Monday’s matchup against Jackson.

Rowland scored three times from set pieces, all from about 20 yards out on the right side, and all in a similar spot on the net.

“They were all great shots. She pretty much put them all right over her head,” Crafton said. “So good concentration … hard to do the same type of shot every time.”

With the five goals, Rowland now has nine for the season to lead the team.

Springfield (6-9-1) got the first goal of the game, but Madalyn Berry tied it up after Ady Kiugree found her with a touch pass from the outside. Berry made a couple of moves and scored a left-footed shot into the left corner about 20 minutes into the game for her first career varsity goal.

Rowland later made it 2-2 going into halftime after Zoe Savat played a through ball to Rowland’s feet, and she put it away.

Again, Parkview scored first to start the second half, this time off a corner kick. As the game wore on, the Lady Vikings kept fouling Poplar Bluff (2-16) just outside of the box, setting up Rowland’s powerful shot for three goals.

Tied at halftime, Crafton moved Berry from forward back to the holding midfielder spot to slow down the Springfield attack and it worked.

“She did a very good job of shutting No. 9 down and that was key for us in the second half,” Crafton said.

Savannah Hicks finished with nine saves for Poplar Bluff.

The Mules travel next play at Jackson at 6:30 p.m. Monday in one of three remaining road games.

They also have four home games still to play before finishing off the season on May 7 at Mountain View-Liberty

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