Helias ties with Poplar Bluff in Capital City Invitational

It must have been one heck of an inspirational halftime talk.

The Helias Crusaders and Poplar Bluff Mules were tied at 1 at intermission Friday night in their first game in the Capital City Invitational at the 179 Soccer Park.

"I'm not really sure what I said, I just kept talking until everybody got their attention on me," Helias coach Chuck Register said. "Then I told them we needed to come together."

Thus inspired, the Crusaders came out and scored just :10 into the second half in what turned out to be a tie at 2 with the Mules.

Braden Remmert of Helias stole the ball on the opening kick of the second half drove to the Poplar Bluff net to score the goal. It just missed on Helias' record for quickest goal of :08 by Forrest McCurren.

"That goal gave us a big boost when we needed it, we were able to rally around each other," Register said.

"Better" was the key word regarding Helias' performance Friday night.

"We moved the ball a lot better, we played better defense," Register said. "And we got two goals on the board."

It wasn't the best of the starts for the Crusaders, who allowed the Mules to get on the scoreboard less than a minute into the first half. That came after Thursday night's 1-0 loss to Fatima on a penalty kick in overtime.

"I didn't know what to expect coming off of Thursday night's game," Register said. "And we give up a quick one with our defense not playing like it should. We weren't playing together."

Helias evened the score with 13 minutes to go before intermission when Remmert connected with Sam Heckart on a free kick in front of the Poplar Bluff net. Heckart then headed Remmert's pass into the goal.

"We want to get Sam involved in front of the net on the free kicks," Register said. "That can be a big weapon for us."

The two had a pair of chances on similar plays just miss later in the first half.

Jeffry Hardin of the Mules tied the game with 13 minute remaining. Poplar Bluff had a chance to win it in the final two minutes, but had a shot just tick off the outside of the post.

Register said the Crusader defense was a little tired toward the end of the game.

"They worked hard as a group," Register said.

Helias (3-7-1) will play games today in the Invitational against Raymore-Peculiar at 11 a.m. and Sedalia Smith-Cotton at 3 p.m.

"We've got two tough games ahead of us (today)," Register said. "I know that we've played two in the past two days, we just need to stick with it for two more."

Smith-Cotton defeated Ray-Pec 2-1 in a late game Friday.