CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. --Poplar Bluff keeper Shelby Sievers made a save then scored the go-ahead goal as the Mules edged Notre Dame in penalty kicks to open the Noon Optimist Club Tournament.
Shelbey Johnson tied the game with a little under 14 minutes left in the second half and the Mules outscored Notre Dame 3-2 in penalties.
"That was a big win," Mules coach Rusty Crafton said of beating the defending MSHSAA Class 2 state champions.
Poplar Bluff (2-1) advances to the semifinal to face Saxony Lutheran, a 2-1 winner over Cape Central. The winner of Friday's 8:30 p.m. game advances to the championship at 1:30 p.m. Saturday while the loser plays for third place at noon.
Notre Dame (0-1) scored first in the 47th minute on a penalty kick by Megan Heisserer.
Johnson's sixth goal of the season came on a free kick that found the upper left corner of the net to pull the Mules even.
There was no overtime played and the Bulldogs missed their first attempt in penalties. Sophie Rowland scored for the Mules but Notre Dame tied it and went ahead 2-1 after Zoe Savat missed. Neida Grimaldo scored to pull Poplar Bluff even and Sievers made a save then switched places.
"She takes them all the time, she's in our rotation," Crafton said. "She has a good shot on it."
Sievers slid in a shot inside the left post to put the Mules in front and the Bulldogs missed their next attempt as Poplar Bluff earned its first win over Notre Dame since a 2015 penalty-kick victory.
"I kind of felt we were going to play good," Crafton said. "Even though we took the loss against Seckman, we played well and I thought it would carry over."
Poplar Bluff's defense marked Heisserer with senior Valeria Palma-Ramirez shadowing the junior who scored her 66th career goal after a foul in the penalty box.
"Overall the defense played well," Crafton said. "Defense has stepped up big time."
JV GOLF
The Mules finished second in a four-team match at Kimbeland Country Club in Jackson. Keaton Carr shot 9-over 44 to lead Poplar Bluff while J. Michael Greenwall (51), Cady Ashton (52) and Trey Montgomery (56) also scored. Jackson beat the Mules 167-203 followed by Notre Dame (224) and Sikeston (246).