The Free State High soccer team, set to make its first appearance in the Class 6A state semifinals in school history on Friday, learned who its opponent would be on Wednesday morning.
The Firebirds (15-4) are the top seed in the east among the final four and they’ll face Dodge City (16-3), the No. 2 seed from the west at 6 p.m. at Blue Valley District Soccer Complex.
Friday’s meeting will match two teams that have traveled similar roads to the semifinals.
“Dodge city is a very tough matchup for us,” FSHS coach Jason Pendleton said. “They are a team that is on a similar path as us in that they too have established their best record in school history up to this point and are making their first trip to the state semifinals.”
The Firebirds advanced to the semis with a hard-fought, 2-1 victory against Blue Valley West at FSHS on Tuesday. Free State had twice before advanced as far as Tuesday night but the program had never won that game, losing to Shawnee Mission South in 2001 and eventual-champion Olathe East in 2005.
Dodge City reached the final four with a 2-1 victory at Maize (17-1) on Tuesday.
Friday’s other semifinal matchup features another Sunflower League squad, as Shawnee Mission Northwest (12-7), the No. 2 seed from the east, will battle with Washburn Rural (18-1) for the right to play for the state championship.
Friday’s winners advance to the title game at 2 p.m. Saturday. The losers will play for third at noon on Saturday.
Although the Firebirds feel good about their team and their chances, Pendleton pointed out that it will take a monster effort from his squad to reach Saturday’s title game.
“(Dodge City has) excellent technical skills and (is) very athletic and dangerous up top,” Pendleton said. “Their forwards have combined for 37 goals this season. It will take our best effort of the year to have a chance to be successful.”
Added senior Tyler Smith, who scored the game winner in Tuesday’s game: “We’re definitely confident right now, but we’re not even close to flirting with that line of cockiness.”
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