Central on course with its unbeaten goal

By Jeremy Joffray ~ Southeast Missourian

A lot of things have to go right to have an undefeated season.

A team has to stay healthy and have a few bounces go its way. A little luck can't hurt.

At 18-0, Central's boys soccer team is four games away from an undefeated regular season. The Tigers take their next step today when they face rival Notre Dame at 7 p.m. at Shawnee Park Sports Complex.

"You'll always remember an undefeated season," Central coach Tom Doyle said.

But an undefeated season could be just another added pressure for a team that has never won a sectional state playoff game, though.

Central senior captain Grant Hengst said he's heard the theory that says losing a game would be good for the team, but finishing with an undefeated record remains a goal.

"We just work hard," he said. "We don't worry what other people say. We just want to win."

Besides playing Notre Dame, the Tigers will face Farmington, Fox and Jefferson City before district play begins.

"These teams are probably going to come out even harder because they see the record," Hengst said.

To make it to win No. 19, Central will try to beat a second opponent for the third time when the two Cape Girardeau teams meet. The Tigers already have won a trio of one-goal games against Carbondale, Ill.

"They've got nothing to lose," Doyle said of the Bulldogs. "After last year they'd probably consider this a down year."

Although the defending Class 2 state champion Bulldogs (9-8-2) have been outscored by the Tigers 9-1 this season, the Bulldogs were the last team to score a regular-season win over Central. Notre Dame routed the Tigers 4-0 at Shawnee last year in the final regular season meeting between the two teams.

The Tigers have a senior-led squad with varsity experience across the lineup. Central has 13 seniors, many of them going into their third year on the varsity squad.

Dating back to last season, the Tigers have won 20 straight regular- season games. Even with the Tigers' long win streak, Central's players have tried to stay grounded.

"In order to be good, you have to be a little cocky," Doyle said. "But with all the seniors, they take care of each other. That's one of the benefits of having so many seniors."

Central's players would like nothing more than to add another win over rival Notre Dame en route to a potential perfect season, though.

"They'll want to come out and break our streak," Hengst said, "but I know for sure we're ready."

The Bulldogs will have to draw some confidence from the two teams' last meeting, a 2-1 win for Central. Notre Dame actually led early in the game.

"I think we're improved from the beginning of the year, and I think Central's improved from the beginning of the year," Notre Dame coach Brad Wittenborn said, "so it should be a good test."

jjoffray@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 171