Free State High’s boys soccer team will be facing history in its regional finals match against Topeka High at 6 tonight at Hummer Sports Complex.

The Firebirds will try to beat the team that ended their postseason last year.

And they will look to pick up their 13th victory, which would be the most victories in a season by any Free State boys’ soccer team.

“Able to put together 12 wins and only lose four … is a little bit of an accomplishment,” senior K.J. Siebert said of their 12-4-1 record. “It’s kind of a nice thing to have your senior year.”

The Firebirds picked up their 12th victory with a four-goal outing against Leavenworth in the regional opener Tuesday.

The offense has awakened since their scoreless tie with the Trojans early in the season.

FSHS has outscored its opponents 26-9 in the nine games since it faced Topeka High.

“Our kids are finishing well the last couple of games,” Firebirds coach Jason Pendleton said. “We’ve been taking advantage of the few that we’ve been getting.

“So, hopefully we’ll come, and we talked about treating each opportunity like it’s precious and not just withering it away and whacking at it.”

Free State nearly withered away in its 4-2 triumph over Leavenworth after taking a 3-0 lead late into the first half.

However, the offensive prowess aided the defense.

“It’s nice to know that if one mistake is made, it’s not going to mean the game,” goalkeeper Brian Hatesohl said. “If a mistake is made and it’s 1-1, it’s a much bigger deal than if its 3-0, but still I try to stop everything. I don’t really think about, ‘OK, I’ve two (goals) I can give them and we’re still in the lead.'”

The key number for the FSHS defense will be two. Twice it gave up more than two goals in its final nine games and lost.

Pendleton is counting on his eight seniors, whom he has coached since seventh grade, to help an otherwise young team.

“Starting with Day One, I didn’t have to say anything about the expectations in terms of being on time, working hard and all those sorts of things,” Pendleton said. “Our senior-laden team knows what’s expected. They’ve been doing the same thing since seventh grade.

“I think the sophomores, who are a very talented group of athletes, who contribute mightily, have seen the example that the seniors have set and are feeding off of that.”

Pendleton said the team was excited to be able to take another shot at the Trojans.

“You’ve got a chance – if you play well and get a few breaks – to advance to the state quarterfinals, and that’s awesome,” Pendleton said. “We’ve done that once before, I think in 2001, and that’s an exciting opportunity. And these kids started working in the spring and then really got after it in the summer, and here we are approaching November, and we’re still getting to play a game that they love.

“And I know our seniors want to keep playing. They don’t want this to be their last game, and one more win sets a school record for us in terms of total wins. So I think all of those things are going to motivate us to be successful.”