Firebirds clobber KC-Wyandotte

Free State junior forward Angelone scores four goals in 11-1 rout of Bulldogs

If Free State High played every boys soccer match on Saturdays, the team might be 11-0-0 instead of 7-2-2.

One week after topping Junction City, 8-0, the Firebirds defeated Kansas City Wyandotte, 11-1, on Saturday at the FSHS field.

“Wyandotte’s a 6A school and they’re in our regional,” FSHS coach Jason Pendleton said. “Right now, if the season was to end, they’d be the No. 5 seed out of the eight teams we’ll have to play to try to get into the quarterfinals. You just play whoever’s in front of you and try to do well.”

To say junior forward Joel Angelone played “well” on Saturday would be an understatement.

Angelone scored four goals against the Bulldogs just two days after scoring three against Shawnee Heights. The quartet against Wyandotte gave Angelone 17 goals for the season.

“Joel’s a special player,” Pendleton said. “When he’s focused he creates a lot of scoring opportunities, and he’s been fortunate to convert on a lot of them.

“He has the intangible of being fast and quick. He’s very good on his feet, and he has the chance to be an outstanding soccer player just because he has those God-given gifts that many players don’t have.”

All four of Angelone’s goals came in the first half because Pendleton moved Angelone to defender after intermission to keep him from scoring more goals.

“It was kind of different,” Angelone said of playing on the back line. “I actually enjoyed it, but it was kind of awkward at first.”

Free State's john bunch (16) battles KC Wyandotte's Gerson Mangandi during Saturday's game at Free State.

Along with Angelone’s four goals, the Firebirds received two first-half goals from Adam Bittlingmayer and one from Zak Sears.

Kayvon Sarraf scored two goals and both Sears and Bittlingmayer, who also had two assists, added a goal in the second half. Bittlingmayer’s goal forced the use of the mercy rule with 4:53 left.

“The goal-scoring part is not as important as executing the things we’re trying to work on in terms of the scheme you’re running,” Pendleton said. “It’s really nice to see players develop over the course of the year, and against a good team Thursday and then to have the intensity to be able to focus and stay up today.”

Free State’s Jeff Stebbins added two assists and Aaron Ideus and Sarraf aided on a goal each.

Free State will play host to Olathe East at 4 p.m. Tuesday.