Free State senior Ernesto Hodison (14) defends against Wichita Southeast's Jose Trejo during the Firebirds 1-0 victory Monday night in regional play at FSHS.

Free State High’s boys soccer team didn’t play its best on Monday, but in the playoffs, it’s all about finding ways to move on to the next round.

The Firebirds advanced to the regional finals with a 1-0 victory against Wichita Southeast at FSHS in the first round of regionals.

Free State sophomore defender Charlie Newsome scored the game-winner, using a header to score off a corner kick from senior Jordan Patrick with seven minutes remaining in the first half.

“The beautiful thing was how long Charlie stayed up in the air for that header,” FSHS coach Kelly Barah said. “I think it took almost an eternity for that to be executed.”

It was the first goal of the season for Newsome, who jumped behind the goalkeeper and had an open net once he put his head on the ball.

“The ball was going over the keeper’s head, and I just followed it,” Newsome said. “I lost my mark and put it in the back of the net. … It’s pretty nice to do it in front of my friends. I heard my friends yelling pretty loud, so it was pretty fun.”

Free State controlled possession and tempo, outshooting the Golden Buffaloes, 15-6, but the Firebirds couldn’t make the most of their offensive attacks with Heitor Nazareth, Nicolas Howard, Israel Lumpkins, Garrett Hodge and Cooper Moreano.

“I think a lot of it had to do with nerves and getting used to it,” FSHS freshman defender Rowan Laufer said. “It was a faster speed of play, I think. Everybody steps it up when it’s playoffs.”

The Golden Buffaloes (6-11) only put one shot on goal in the first half, struggling to keep possession past midfield.

But in the second half, Wichita Southeast turned up the intensity. Freshman Tyler Inlow fired a free kick to the upper-left corner of the net, but Free State junior goalkeeper Jonathan Lesslie jumped and put his right hand on it to push it away. Wichita Southeast junior Phoma Amphone had an open shot in the box off of Lesslie’s deflection, but Lesslie dove to his left and knocked it to a teammate.

“At first I lost it in the lights,” Lesslie said of the free kick, one of his four saves. “But then it came back across, and I just tried to get big and ended up saving it.”

The fourth-seeded Firebirds (11-5-1) didn’t give up many good chances on net. Back-line defenders — Newsome, Patrick, Laufer and junior Francisco Flores — turned away Wichita Southeast’s forwards, making smart tackles and keeping the ball out of dangerous areas.

“We were pretty happy,” Newsome said. “We didn’t get too much pressure on us, but what we dealt with, we thought we did pretty good.”

The back-line defense was one of the biggest question marks at the beginning of the season, but they’ve shown a lot of improvement throughout the season. In the past four games, the Firebirds have only allowed two goals.

“We’re starting a freshman and sophomore back there, and not that many people thought we could do it,” Laufer said. “But we proved, I think, this season that we can handle the pressure.”

The Firebirds will face No. 5-seed Wichita North (10-6) or No. 12-seed Campus (6-9-1) at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at FSHS.