Sikeston's Jordi Ferrell tries to outrun a Cape Central defender Saturday afternoon. (David Jenkins/Standard Democrat)

By Andrew Powell ~ sd_sports@yahoo.com

CAPE GIRARDEAU - The Sikeston girls' soccer team had two tough outings this past weekend after running into two squads from Cape Girardeau in the Noon Optimist Club Tournament.

In their first game of the tournament, the Lady Bulldogs took on the host Notre Dame Lady Bulldogs. These two teams had already squared off once this season with Notre Dame spoiling Sikeston's season opener 2-0.

Sikeston's Laura Atchison knees the ball Saturday afternoon against Cape Central. (David Jenkins/Standard Democrat) [Click to enlarge]

However, Saturday would be no different as the host Bulldogs came away with the 2-0 victory, leaving the visting Bulldogs thinking deja vu.

And even though the results may have been similar Sikeston head coach Derrick Long seemed more pleased with the effort this time around.

"I was really happy with the way the girls came out and played in the first half," said Long. "It was definitely better than the first time we played them. I felt like we pushed the ball well and we created a lot of opportunities to score. We just couldn't quite take full advantage and find the back of the net."

The Lady Bulldogs battled the host squad hard, creating 11 shots on goal through the first 40 minutes of play before reaching a 0-0 stalemate at the end of the first half.

Sikeston continued their solid play in the second, holding Notre Dame to a scoreless game. But midway in the half, a mental error cost the visting team greatly.

With 23 minutes left, a foul called on a Sikeston defender at the edge of the box set the host Bulldogs up for a chance to take the lead with a penalty kick.

"We were really in it at that point but we accidently committed a foul on a mental mistake and it cost us," Long said. "But you got to give credit to Notre Dame, they took advantage of our mistake and Courtney Luehmann made an excellent shot on goal that was just off the hand of Amber (Minner)."

Luehmann gave the host Bulldogs their first lead, 1-0, at the 57-minute mark. Notre Dame would then add an insurance goal at the seventy-two minute mark when Anna Wren delivered a pass to Mindy Siberit from the corner to give the Lady Bulldogs a 2-0 lead. This would be all the tournament host needed to hold on to the win.

In their second game of the tournament, the Lady Bulldogs battled the Cape Central Lady Tigers and looked to be coming away with a 2-1 victory.

But with 59 second left in the game, Cape Central's Heather Deisher found the back of the net on an assist from Heather Uptmore to send the game into overtime.

And after two scoreless overtime period, the Lady Tigers would go on to out score the Lady Bulldogs 3-1 in a shoot out.

"It was kind of frustrating to let a two goal lead slip out of our hands," said Long. "And in a shootout the first team who misses is usually the one who loses and we just came up short."

Sikeston's lone goal in the shoot out came from senior Jennifer Millington. However, while the Lady Bulldogs came up short in the end, the beginning of the game was completely in their favor.

Sikeston wasted little time in the opening half after a goal from Abbi Keefer at the 10-minute mark

put her team up 1-0. Senior Jordi Ferrell was credited for the assist.

The duo would then hook up again four minutes later to put the Lady Bulldogs ahead 2-0.

But mental mistakes once again plagued Sikeston as another free kick would result in a goal for the opposition. Cape Central's Sarah Uptmore found the net with one minute left in the first half to bring her team with in one, 2-1, at the break.

"That was a tough one," Long said of the penalty kick. "It really gave them the momentum heading into the second half and to their credit I thought they out played us in the second half.

"We definitely had our chances and we seem to be having a hard time play a full 80 minutes. But it's still early in the season and I think we'll continue to get better."

Sikeston (2-3) will be back in action tonight when they travel to Poplar Bluff to take on the Lady Mules at 5:30 p.m.