The Poplar Bluff Mules continue their hot start to the 2024 boys' soccer season with a tight 1-0 win over the Perryville Pirates to begin Notre Dame Soccerfest on Thursday, Sept. 5, at Notre Dame High School in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Poplar Bluff finished last season 15-6-1, its first winning season since going 14-11 in 2015. The Mules are 3-0 and looks like they could be a formidable team once again.

"I feel like we got a chance at doing the same thing last year, and maybe even better," said Mules junior goalkeeper Darrious Wallace.

Freshman Dylan Parish ended the deadlock by scoring the go-ahead goal with 14 minutes remaining in the game. He tangled with Perryville defender Ethan Pohlman and collided with captain and goalkeeper Waylon Huber as the ball sailed through the net.

"Really, it was just hitting it back and forth, looking up for the open space in the middle and hitting the ball through, and I got to it," 3 said. "I got a lucky goal."

It was Parish's second goal in three games through this young season.

"It feels good," Parish said "I hope we keep it up. It's just passion."

Parish is proving to be one of the reasons for feeling optimistic about the Mules continuing their newfound winning ways.

"It's been a big help," Wallace said. "We lost a lot of quick people up front but having him on the team is helping us with the speed and pace we need to have up front to get goals."

The Mules will take on Jackson on Friday as a continuation of Notre Dame Soccerfest. Jackson defeated Carbondale 4-0 on Thursday to set up the showdown.

Continuing their season-opening winning streak through Soccerfest would "mean a lot to all of us."

"It definitely set our mindset as we can win and there's not really much stopping us," Wallace said.

It was Perryville's (1-1) second game of the season to end on a 1-0 score. The Pirates were previously on the winning end on such a result, beating Notre Dame 1-0 on Tuesday thanks to a goal from Treyton Barnett.

The Pirates will play Carbondale on Friday at 3:30 p.m.