A Pendleton Heights’ player has to avoid interfering with Mt. Vernon goalkeeper Bryce Glazier (0) as he makes a save during a game last season. Glazier and the Marauders lost a tough match to East Central Tuesday in the first round of the Shelbyville Sectional.
The Daily Reporter File Photo
SHELBYVILLE —Mt. Vernon had its boys soccer season come to a close in a quarterfinal round match of Class 3A Shelbyville Sectional 12 of the IHSAA Boys Soccer State Tournament Tuesday.
The Marauders lost 1-0 to East Central at the Shelbyville Soccer Complex.
The lone goal came midway in the first half.
East Central improved to 13-2-1 and will play Connersville (13-3-1) — a 1-0 winner over Richmond (10-6-1) in Tuesday’s first game — in a semifinal round contest today at 7:15 p.m.
New Palestine (8-7-1) and Greenfield-Central (11-1-3) will compete in the other semifinal at 5:30 p.m.
Mt. Vernon was competing against a stubborn Trojans defense, led by goalkeeper Joost Van den berg, that has given up only three goals in regulation this season. The win was East Central’s third straight and fifth match without a loss.
“We played hard. They happened to get one in on us in the first half and their goalie came up big,” Mt. Vernon coach Matt Mayhew said. “We executed our game plan. We just couldn’t get the back of the net. We played the way we wanted to. It just didn’t happen tonight.”
Mt. Vernon finished 9-6 on the season and was the third-place team (5-2) in the Hoosier Heritage Conference.
The Marauders graduate a big senior class, 12 strong. Mayhew said they’ll definitely be missed and he’s proud of their accomplishments.
“The chemistry was there. We preach about family and being there for each other on and off the field,” Mayhew said. “These guys really took to that and really tried to develop those relationships, especially with the younger kids. They were great influences on the younger ones. That made me proud as a coach to see that effort they put in. They don’t have to do it, but they wanted to do it and they represented Mt. Vernon well.”
Seniors on this year’s roster included, Bryce Glazier, Carsen Brandon, Evan LeRoy, Zach Johnson, Enrik Moses, Griffin Ruminer, Ethan Tucker, James Cripe, Akseli Huopalahti, Cole Duffy, Dawson Wagner and Brennan LaBelle.
