By ROB TATE ~ DAR Sports Writer

The Poplar Bluff Mules soccer team has to feel pretty good about its chances against Northwest come Monday in the first round of the MSHSAA Class 3 District 1 tournament.

First off, the Mules are coming off a near-upset of the third-ranked Notre Dame Bulldogs on Tuesday night. Poplar Bluff put together a solid defensive game plan that forced overtime against the Bulldogs, but came up short, 1-0.

Secondly, Northwest is coming into the game with just two wins on the season. A win total that the Mules may not be able to overlook due to the competition Northwest plays.

"They've been playing some tough teams in St. Louis a majority of the year," Poplar Bluff coach Derek Reasons said. "Their level of competition is real strong."

The Mules come in as the fourth-seed in the district after compiling a record of 6-17-1, but have played pretty well the last couple games, including a win Monday over Sikeston and the near-miss against Notre Dame.

"The kids are feeling extremely well right now," Reasons said. "They're working hard in practice especially on some of our weaknesses."

There is good and bad news for the Mules offensively at the moment. The good news has been the solid play of forward Josh Thompson, who should get some All-State votes at the end of the season.

The senior though has scored every Mules goal since a victory against Fredericktown back on Oct. 7 which means that Northwest will probably throw some double and triple teams on him whenever he is anywhere near the goal area.

Thompson has scored a career-high 16 goals on the season and the last four goals for the Mules respectively.

"I've got a pretty good feeling that they know he's our go to guy," Reasons said. "I imagine they'll try and double team him to slow us down."

The Mules will perhaps need the help of their supporting forwards to go deep into the playoffs.

"I could see Dustin Calvert, Josh Townsend or maybe even Logan Plunkett helping out," Reasons added.

On the other hand, the defense has been playing just as well. After giving up five goals in loss to Farmington back on Oct. 20, the Mules have just let in the one goal to Notre Dame in the last 180 minutes of play.

The play of Kenyan Francis and Dallas Berry helped with the execution of the gameplan against Notre Dame that saw the Mules trying to push the Bulldogs to the outside.

"Having those two guys back there makes all the rest of the guys comfortable," Reasons added.

Northwest beat the Mules last season in the first round of districts last season, 3-0.

Reasons, who is in his first year at the helm, doesn't know what to expect come Monday. The Mules have played a tough schedule and hope that it helps in the end.

"We don't really know too much about them," Reasons said of Northwest. "I don't know if (having a tough schedule) will play out in our favor."

The game is set for 5:30 p.m. Monday at Jackson. The winner will play top-seed Cape Central at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the semifinals.