SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Shelbey Johnson earned her fifth hat trick of the season while Shelby Sievers made nine saves for her third shutout as Poplar Bluff salvaged a weekend trip to the Kickapoo Shootout with a 5-0 win over Carl Junction.
The Mules went 1-2 to place seventh in the two-day event, losing 3-2 to Hickman in the opening round Friday and 7-0 to Nixa earlier Saturday.
"By far our worst game of the season," Mules coach Rusty Crafton said. "Just didn't play well all the way around and give credit to them, they have a good team."
Nixa (7-3-1) scored five first-half goals after the Mules had allowed no more than four in any one game all season.
Poplar Bluff (5-6) led at halftime in the other two games.
Hickman (8-4-1), which ended up third in the tournament, scored three times in the second half to edge the Mules.
Johnson and Sophie Rowland each had a goal and an assist in the loss. The Mules came in 4-0 in games when they scored two or more goals.
"We had chances to score late," Crafton said.
In the final game Saturday against Carl Junction (3-4), Johnson scored three times, Neida Grimado added her fourth of the season while Rowland netted her third to go with two assists for 15. Johnson and Emily Spencer also had assists.
Poplar Bluff led 3-0 at halftime.
"Played much better as a team," Crafton said. "Made a few adjustments and it worked for us."
Johnson now has 23 goals in 11 games, one shy of her season total from last year.
The Mules host St. Vincent on Monday after losing the previous meeting 2-1 on March 24.