The Waynesville Tigers came into Poplar Bluff on a rainy night and left with a 1-0 victory over the Mules in varsity boys’ soccer on Thursday.

The remnants of Hurricane Francine made conditions miserable for athletes and fans alike, with heavy rain and blustery winds that made 67 degrees feel much colder.

“I told the boys to hang their heads high,” said Mules head coach Rusty Crafton. “We played really good, we just couldn’t capitalize down here when we had the ball.”

Neither team scored in the first half, nor did either squad generate many good scoring chances.

Waynesville took the first shot near the goal with 22:25 left in the opening half, but it went so far left that Mules' goalie Darrious Wallace safely ignored it.

The Mules drove deep into Waynesville territory at the first half's 14:40 mark, but couldn’t get a shot away. Their next chance came at 13:22 with a shot from wide right that was an easy grab for Tiger goalie Tristan Boerner.

The Tigers next scoring chance came on a 25-yard free kick that veered wide right, then the Mules’ next opportunity came at the 5:40 mark of the first half, but ended with another Boerner save.

Poplar Bluff almost broke through in the last minute with a near breakaway for Alex Bedell, but he couldn’t get a shot off through the defense.

The Mules kept the ball and shot from the left corner with 16 seconds left in the half, but Boerner made the save to send both teams out of the rain at 0-0.

Waynesville scored the game's lone goal with 16:29 left in the second half. After a free kick from the 30, the Mules couldn’t clear the zone, and Sei Fowler’s shot into the left corner of the net gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead.

The Mules only generated one legitimate scoring chance in the second half, when Caden Hambrick had an open path to the right side of the goal, but his shot sailed over the goal and through the football uprights.

Poplar Bluff fought until the end to find the tying goal, but time expired before they could create another shot.

“We’re not going to win every game,” Crafton said, “but if we go down with a fight, that’s all I can ask for.”