Topeka ? After the Lawrence High girls soccer team conducted its usual postgame jaunt past the bleachers to salute parents and fans, Abby Vestal lingered a little longer.

As the team’s lone senior slowly sauntered back to the team huddle, her teammates and coaches applauded her.

Although the commendation did not erase Thursday night’s 1-0 loss to Washburn Rural in the Class 6A regional championship, it demonstrated Vestal’s significance to her squad.

“That was a pretty cool feeling,” Vestal said, “that they appreciate what I’ve done.”

With Rural being the No. 1 seed, sporting a 12-3-2 record and hosting the game, one would have expected the Junior Blues to defeat the Lions (4-8-2) much more handily.

Lawrence High played strong defense throughout but never countered with a sufficient offensive challenge. During the second half, Rural attempted seven shots toward the goal while LHS had just one.

“We did some pretty good things out here today against a very good team,” LHS coach Matt Anderson said. “We just couldn’t quite get it up there on the scoreboard.”

The difference proved to be Rural’s Miranda Kirksey, who scored the game’s lone goal from the top of the arc just more than five minutes into the game.

“It kind of bounced out,” Vestal said. “And no one stepped out on the ball.”

Thursday’s performance, however, showed the strides LHS has made following its midseason struggles. On April 13, the Lions lost to the Junior Blues, 3-1 – part of an 0-8-2 slump.

“We’ve come a long way,” said junior Madison Bertrand, who wiped tears away from her face after the game. “We really improved throughout the season.”

After the game Anderson gathered his team, expressing his pride in the girls’ year. He praised their resiliency and their accomplishment of earning the first postseason win in the program’s history.

“We talked about how low we were at the middle of the season,” Anderson said. “They stuck together and stuck with it and bought into the system.”

For Vestal, the regional championship loss capped a four-year varsity career. Immersed in final exams and her season with the Kansas Koyotes – an American Professional Football Team – she expressed numbness rather than sadness.

“It’s not really set in yet,” she said. “I’ve got so much going on. … It’s pretty hectic. There’s not much room for emotions right now.”

Anderson praised Vestal’s role during his tenure.

“She brings enormous leadership to the field every day. All the girls look up to her and respect her so much,” Anderson said. “It’s going to be strange next year. That’s for sure.”

Despite losing Vestal, the future looks bright for LHS. Next year’s team returns 10 starters and will have a four seniors.

“It’s very exciting,” Anderson said. “Now that all these kids have been in this system … it should be advantageous for us.”