REPUBLIC, Mo. — Joplin and Carthage both suffered heartbreaking losses at the Class 4 District 12 soccer tournament on Monday night.
The Eagles nearly pulled off a huge upset. In the end, it wasn’t meant to be.
Top-seeded Nixa edged fourth-seeded Joplin 2-1 in overtime on in a district semifinal contest at Republic High School.
Nixa took an early lead on Andrew Butler’s goal in the fifth mintue, but Joplin’s Andrew Taylor scored on a penalty kick in the 36th minute.
Neither team scored for the remainder of regulation.
In overtime, Nixa’s Carson Palmer scored the golden goal, with Butler assisting.
Joplin ended the season at 8-14.
CARTHAGE FALLS ON PKS
Second-seeded Carthage suffered a season-ending 3-2 setback to third-seeded Republic on penalty kicks after two overtimes weren’t enough to produce a winner.
Carthage’s Marcos Valdez opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, but a goal by Republic’s Marco Donjuan in the 32nd minute tied the score.
Carthage took a 2-1 lead in the 46th minute on Adrian Garrido’s goal, but Republic’s Jabali Kweyu Wanekaya recorded an equalizer in the 70th minute.
Neither team was able to score in two overtime periods. A lengthy penalty kick shootout went Republic’s way, 11-10.
Carthage finished with a record of 18-5.
Nixa (14-9) meets Republic (12-9) at 6 on Wednesday in the district championship.
COLLEGE HEIGHTS ADVANCES
Fourth-seeded College Heights Christian defeated fifth-seeded Richland 9-1 in the quarterfinals of the Class 1 District 6 tournament in Springfield.
The Cougars received goals from eight different players.
College Heights meets No. 1 New Covenant in the semifinals at 2 p.m. on Tuesday at the Cooper Youth Sports Complex.
