Free State blanks Lions in soccer regional

FSHS's senior Briceson Junge (15) works for position on LHS senior Alex Mwithiga (2) on Monday October 27, 2014.

Free State High boys soccer players were pumped when they won the first chapter of the City Showdown a few weeks ago.

That was nothing.

Playing against Lawrence High in the first round of regionals Monday meant so much more. The intensity was raised. Every play had so much riding on it.

With all of that added in, this City Showdown victory was much sweeter. The Firebirds scored two quick goals and played strong defense in a 2-0 victory at LHS. It’s Free State’s first win in regionals since 2011.

“It was beyond great,” FSHS junior Jordan Patrick said. “It just feels so good to finally get a regional win. This has been the first one in so long, so it’s just really great. It’s amazing.”

The ninth-seeded Firebirds (9-7-1) were hoping for a quick start, and that’s exactly what they got when junior midfielder Will Laufer struck a ball toward the net, and it spun off of Lawrence High senior goalkeeper Andrew Ornburn and trickled in for a goal in the eighth minute.

“I didn’t even know it went in,” Laufer said. “I turned around and was going back to play defense. I mean, it’s lucky, but we make our own luck, so we’ll take it.”

In the 21st minute, the Firebirds struck again for another goal. Patrick squeezed a pass between a few LHS defenders, and it found senior forward Carson Gilliland, who flung a shot, which was supposed to be a pass, by the back post for a 2-0 lead.

“It just bounced over to me, and I hit it with the outside of my right foot, trying to get it back in so somebody could knock it in,” Gilliland said. “I wasn’t even expecting it to go in, but it went in.”

That’s all the Firebirds would need on offense, though they had a few more opportunities, including an open shot from senior Brogan Ryan, which flew just over the cross bar.

On the other side, the eighth-seeded Lions (8-7-2) produced plenty of solid opportunities, but none dropped into the net. Senior midfielder Zach Alexander connected on a bicycle kick near the end of the first half, but FSHS goalkeeper Tyler Bryant was there for one of his eight saves.

Lawrence sophomore Cain Scott, senior Sam Stephens, sophomore Charlie Carr and junior Brennan Davies all facilitated good chances that didn’t show on the scoreboard in the second half, as Free State’s defense of Patrick, Daulton Sharp, Chaska Rocha and Nicholas Larkin kept the ball in front of them and deflected shots off corner kicks.

The Lions, who were hosting their third playoff game in school history, also dealt with injuries that limited senior Ellis Springe on defense and senior Jakob Burdett on offense.

“I thought we did a pretty good job of creating corners, creating restarts,” LHS coach Mike Murphy said. “I thought pretty much most of the game, especially the second half, we played on their end of the field. We’ve just got to find a way to convert those.”

As the clock struck zero, the Firebirds jumped up and down and raised their arms in celebration before celebrating with fans and their classmates, as their season lives on for at least another game.

“It’s really nice when one of your goals is to first of all to have a winning season, and then to have your first regional win, and go after that,” FSHS coach Kelly Barah said. “But the boys aren’t satisfied with this.”

The Firebirds will go on the road to face top-seeded Olathe East (15-1) in the regional finals at 7 p.m. Thursday at the CBAC.