George Rogers Clark hosted their senior night Thursday against Sayre and the Spartans left the field victorious 3-2.

Sayre had the first strike as they found the back of the net four minutes into the match.

The Cardinals quickly found an answer two minutes later after a Jonathan Stefanski shot led to a Sayre player called for a hand ball in the box.

Senior Nathan Bush sank the penalty kick to even the score 1-1.

Another two minutes of game time and another Sayre goal.

Senior Trystan Hayes was called for a foul in the box and Sayre was rewarded with a successful penalty kick to once again regain the lead 2-1.

Sayre gained even more momentum in the midst of a hard, sudden rainfall and put another in the net with six minutes left in the first half to put the Spartans up two goals 3-1 at the half.

GRC turned on the pressure as a goal from Emido Piedra cut the deficit 3-2 four minutes into the second half.

Shortly after the ball was returned to midfield, a lightning bolt hit the sky to put a delay on the game.

The game was eventually called off and the Cards left the field on senior night with a loss.

Head coach Walt Ridener said his team did not leave it all out on the field Thursday.

“It was a lack of effort,” he said. “It is the same thing that has been happening to us all year long. On paper, we have one of the better teams in the district and region. You cannot play without effort. Effort outweighs talent any day. That has been our story all year long and it has been frustrating.”

Ridener said his team needs motivation to put a pep in their step.

“We play Bourbon County on Monday and hopefully that is motivation enough,” he said. “We still have to fix things tactically and technically. The kids are really young and I do not think they see the finale in it all. Until you are a senior and walk off the field, they will not understand that some day it will all be over. The have to give effort day in and day out.”

Nonetheless, Ridener has been honored to coach the seniors throughout the years.

“Trystan Hayes has signed the letter to play at Georgetown. I have had him since he was a sophomore. I have known Wade Carrington since he was just a little kid. This is the first season Brandon Adams has ever played and he has improved so much. He is probably one of the best players we have. Nathan Bush steps up and nails the penalty kick and he has never scored before. These guys know they are one game away from it all being done for good. You take them but then you go down the list and we are playing mostly sophomores. They do not understand that tomorrow, there is no tomorrow. You have to come out and give effort. In four years, you are gone and it is done and you will look back wondering where they went. You are always thinking back what you could have done differently and you can never go back.”

GRC finished the regular season 4-12-3 and will head to Bourbon County Tuesday to face the Colonels in the first round of the 39th District Tournament.