photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Free State sophomore Trenton Cozadd (19, middle) fends off Lawrence High senior Aidan Esperance (12) and junior Joshua Lavin during a 1-0 win for FSHS in the City Showdown on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, at FSHS.

After nearly 100 minutes of scoreless soccer, junior midfielder Jonathan Zheng found the net on a free kick to push Free State past Lawrence High 1-0 in a double-overtime City Showdown on Thursday night at FSHS.

The climactic goal, which came together at the two-minute mark during the second overtime, was set up for Zheng on a defensive penalty against LHS (7-6-0).

Facing Lions sophomore keeper Murphy Nowak, who’d walled off FSHS (7-5-0) with seven saves throughout the night, Zheng lined the ball up perfectly just past Nowak’s grasp and into the top of the net.

Zheng – who goes by JJ among his teammates – said he couldn’t even hear FSHS head coach Joe Waldron over the crowd before taking his shot.

“I thought it was a tie for sure,” Zheng said. “But when there’s two minutes left and it’s the City Showdown, we had to do something.”

Through all the noise, Waldron was actually asking for junior keeper Yusef Iskandrani, who made two key saves to force a second overtime, to take the free kick. Before Waldron could make the switch, senior defender Utah Hester chimed in.

“I told (Waldron) JJ just made one last game and told him to stay away,” Hester said.

The team captain’s advice proved to be the right call. FSHS walked away with a second consecutive victory after rolling past Olathe South 4-1 – a match that featured another goal by Zheng – on Tuesday.

After the game, Waldron said Thursday’s battle pushed his group to the limit.

“They’re physically drained and emotionally exhausted,” Waldron said. “You still have to defend if it doesn’t work, too. JJ hit a great free kick; we practice those a lot … what a great atmosphere; the City Showdown is fantastic and the fans are great.”

The Chesty Lions have now lost two consecutive games; the other one was a 4-2 road loss at Olathe Northwest. LHS head coach Joe Comparato said that while Thursday’s loss burns, there’s still a lot more soccer to be played.

“I felt like we dominated the game – we had more possession, more control,” Comparato said. “We just couldn’t get our shot in, and so, that’s what happens.”

Next up, FSHS hosts Shawnee-Mill Valley on Monday; LHS returns home to face Shawnee Mission South on Saturday.