Maroons shooting for return to state

Wednesday, August 06, 2008

For the Madisonville-North Hopkins boys’ varsity soccer team, last season’s appearance in the first round of the state tournament may have been just a steppingstone. That’s because this year’s team returns nine starters.

In 2007, the Maroons took top honors in the 5th Region and later lost to Bowling Green in the state tourney, but with most players coming back, the team expects another successful season.

“We’re pretty excited to have so many solid players back with a lot of experience that are used to our system,” coach John Tichenor said. “They know what the coaches want. It’s not something that we’re going to have to teach over.”

Among the returning players are senior captains Rush Dugger and Miles Durham. Last season Dugger led the state with 35 goals, and Durham paced all Kentucky players with 29 assists. Dugger also finished 12th in the state for assists, and Durham was in the top 20 for goals.

Tichenor said each player’s role is different but both will be expected to be great contributors to the team’s success.

“Rush is a pure goal-scorer,” Tichenor said. “He has a knack and an uncanny way of finding the back of the net.

“Miles is our distributor. He understands where the ball is going to be before it actually gets there. He can put the ball places where he knows our players are going to run on.”

Durham, as a midfielder, said he enjoys getting the goal but understands the importance of passing to his teammates when he’s being defended closely.

“First, I look to finish,” he said. “If the goal is open I try to score, but second, I look for Rush or one of the other forwards, so I can get it to them if I have the chance.”

The duo’s years of playing together also allows them to anticipate each other’s next move.

“I try to get in position where Miles can give it to me, and 95 percent of the time Miles will get it to me,” Dugger said.

Behind Dugger and Durham, the team boasts many other strong returning players as well.

Senior Micah Crowell will also start and is another viable scoring option for opposing defenses to watch.

“He takes the pressure off Miles and Rush and that’s another legitimate offensive threat so we’re very excited about him as well contributing up front,” Tichenor said.

Other starters will include Trevor Gillespie at wing while Corey Ashby and Ethan Rutledge will rotate at the stopper position.

Junior Austin Walker, last season’s most valuable player on the junior varsity team, will make the move up to varsity and become one of the team’s starting defenders.

Maartin Adams, a junior, will secure the defensive mid position.

“He’s what I call a beast in the weight room,” Tichenor said. “He will play in the middle a lot. Just his presence sometimes is intimidating to opposing players.”

Logan Whitfield will also play defense as the team’s “lock-down defender.”

“We figure out who the opposing best player is and he’s going to be the person to get that assignment,” Tichenor said.

John Arnold and JD Lester round out the North defense. Arnold will act as the team’s sweeper while Lester will take position at goalkeeper.

As sweeper Arnold will be the Maroons’ “quarterback of the defense,” organizing the team’s strategy as the game progresses.

“I have to be vocal,” he said. “I can see most of the field back there. I can orchestrate everybody and tell them where they need to be going.”

Lester will be the team’s last line of defense as goalie and assumes the position after splitting time last year as a field player and keeper.

“He understands that we need a goalie and again that’s another example of he’s doing maybe not what is best for him, but what is best for the team,” Tichenor said. “I have a lot of appreciation for JD being willing to play that position, he plays it well too.”

With so many returning pieces, the Maroons’ success is in their hands this season.

“I believe when they walk on the field, it doesn’t matter who they play, they expect to win,” Tichenor said. “That’s just a mentality that our program has taken on over the past few years. I think they expect to win, they train to win.”

North begins its quest back to state when the team visits Murray High School on Aug. 19