Central celebrates senior night with 'W'

Last week Central and Notre Dame played a one-goal soccer game which could have gone either way.

The Tigers made sure the score was not so close the second time around, routing Notre Dame 5-0 on senior night Wednesday at Central.

Central (13-9) and clinched the SEMO Conference with a 7-0 league mark with one conference game remaining.

"I still gave them a challenge," Central coach Tom Doyle said. "We want to win the conference undefeated."

With the Tigers' seniors playing their last regular season home game, it was fitting that a senior generated all the offense Central would need. Devon Edmonds scored on a breakaway less than five minutes into the game, giving the Tigers an early 1-0 lead.

"We had three or four mistakes on the first goal and it kind of snowballed on us in the first half," Notre Dame coach Brad Wittenborn said.

Edmonds struck on another breakaway 15 minutes into the first half, when he snuck the ball past Bulldog goalie Kirk Boeller, who came off his line late.

Boeller, making a rare start in goal for Notre Dame (10-10), gave the Tigers a gift later in the half. After collecting the ball, Boeller attempted to throw the ball to one of his teammates only to have it slip out of his hand and go right to a Tigers forward. Central forward Lance Altenthal alertly chipped the ball over Boeller's head and into the net for a 3-0 lead.

Ryan Ponder put the Tigers' high-scoring half to an end with a goal in the last two minutes of the half. Boeller got a piece of the low shot, but the ball went off the inside of the post and into the net.

"I told the kids at halftime that's the best half of soccer we played all year," Doyle said.

The second half was more competitive, with Notre Dame applying some pressure. Central scored the only goal of the half, though, with Jesse Pyeatte scoring on a loose ball in the box midway through the half.

Central goalie Tony Leuckel was tested several times in the half, making a strong save on Bulldogs forward Frankie Ellis early in the half. Jason Delgado put another solid shot on Leuckel late in the half but came up empty.

"Our effort was a little more consistent. We put a little more combination play together the second half," Wittenborn said.

Central's next plays Monday at Hillsboro. Notre Dame will travel to Poplar Bluff on Tuesday.