Published: October 03, 2008 01:02 am      

Central falls short on Senior Night

RICHMOND — In its last home game of the 2008 season, Madison Central couldn’t send its seniors out with a win.

The Indians were shutout by East Jessamine, 3-0, in a game that left Central coach Jeremiah Duerson making no excuses.

“It all comes down to finishing again,” Duerson said. “We never got one in the back of the net. I hate to see the seniors to go out this way on Senior Night, but the good thing is, we still have the district tournament coming up.”

Central found itself trailing within seven minutes. Colt sophomore Christian King scored off an assist by junior Michael Small and then King turned around and assisted eighth-grader Matt Hall for the Colts’ second goal.

“We had some mistakes in the back that cost us two early goals and we never recovered from that,” Duerson said. “I don’t know if it was lack of focus early. I’m not sure what it is.”

The usual stars were busy for Central. Junior Gordo Horn had a shot that he couldn’t convert on with just less than 29 minutes left in the first half. Senior Vince Clay had a shot on goal with 35 minutes left in the game that went wide left. However, Duerson said he was, once again, impressed with the play of sophomore Stephen Willoughby.

“Stephen Willoughby plays his butt off, game in and game out,” he said. “We all need to have that mentality. We all need to leave it all out on the field.”

One player from each side received a yellow card for dissent in the second half, including Central senior Travis Wells. Central had 18 shots on goal to East Jessamine’s 12. Duerson said the Indians did play better in the second half, but it didn’t matter in the end.

“We started playing better but whether you play better or not, it all comes down to putting the ball in the back of the net,” he said. “Whether we outshoot them or not, it’s who scores the most goals, and obviously, they beat us in that category tonight.”

For Duerson, there’s one problem that have plagued the Indians from the beginning of the season: the absence of communication between the players on the field.

“(That) has been a problem all year,” he said. “I preach and preach communication and I can’t do it for them. It’s up to them. They have to step it up. We’ve got a week before district tournament. We need to find a way.”

Madison Central (7-7-1) has two more games before the beginning of the district tournament. They will face off against Boyle County at 7:30 p.m. Monday in Danville and then against Mercer County Wednesday in Harrodsburg.

“Now, it’s up to them. It’s their team,” Duerson said. “It’s whatever they want the outcome to be. We can either step it up and do something special in districts or we can lay down and bow out early. It’s up to them to do it. Us coaches can’t do it for them.”