Madison soccer made program history, but TSSAA title game loss on penalty kicks still stung

MURFREESBORO — Madison boys soccer players sat, laid and cried at midfield after losing the TSSAA Class A championship game on penalty kicks against Gatlinburg-Pittman on Friday. 

The Mustangs (19-3) came so close to capping the best season in school history with a state championship. After a few moments to gather themselves, however, they walked off the field after realizing what they accomplished.

"Overall, we have made history. We are the first team from Madison to make it to the championship," said junior forward Donovan Pruitte, who had a school-record 39 goals. "I'm very proud of this team. Without these guys we wouldn't even be here. With the passion and effort we have — we made it here and things turned out how they did."

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The game was scoreless in regulation, and 2-2 in the shootout after Pruitte and Jack Young scored for Madison. Eli Colbert then scored the game-winning penalty for Gatlinburg-Pittman. 

This was Madison's first game in penalty kicks this season, a new experience for keeper Callum Donnell, who had only allowed 12 goals this season.  

Donnell, who replaced the 2021 West Tennessee player of the year in goalie Jed McWherter, said despite the outcome he likes playing in pressure situations.

"Oh yeah (living for big moments). Someone probably has a picture of me somewhere smiling walking to the field when extra time hit," Donnell said. "My coach came up to me and said he wishes he was me — he told me 'this is your moment to shine,' so I live for those moments I love them." 

Madison coach Igor Luczeensky said his team didn't have its best day but that he was proud of his players' effort and progress this season. 

"I'm definitely proud of them because we were clearly as good or better than them," Luczeensky said. "Improvement is the right word to describe this season because that is the goal for the program and personally for me. If there's no improvement it doesn't matter. We try to work really hard to be better every year. This season was better than last and next season will be better than this." 

Madison finished with a school record for wins and three players (Pruitte, sophomore Jack Young and junior Braden Nye) had 20 or more goals and 10 or more assists.

Madison will also lose only one senior starter, Eli Patton, going into the 2023 season.