photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State juniors Marvin Boeger, right, and Eli Stone move toward the ball in the second half of the regional championship match against Washburn Rural at Washburn Rural High School on Thursday, October 31, 2024. The Firebirds lost 3-0.

Free State’s boys soccer season came to an end with a 3-0 loss to Washburn Rural on Thursday in Topeka.

The Junior Blues took an early lead that the Firebirds couldn’t overcome. Six minutes into the match the Junior Blues scored after the ball took an awkward bounce into the goal after a corner kick. In the ninth minute, they scored again with a corner kick.

Free State coach Joe Waldron said it was jarring for the team to be down so quickly on set pieces, which is typically an area in which the Firebirds excel.

“That was everything,” Waldron said of the early lead. “We knew it was coming. We talked about how to deal with it, but we didn’t do it very well. (Washburn Rural) is quite good at that. We gave up 3 goals on three corner kicks. It came fast, and it came hard.”

The multi-goal deficit was too much to overcome, even with an improvement in Free State’s offensive attack. Sophomore Sam Lickert said that the team had a few chances in the first half, but they couldn’t get it done.

Free State found success getting to the final third by pushing the ball up the left sideline. For the most part, Washburn Rural succeeded in keeping the ball away from the middle of the field in that final third.

At halftime, the score remained a 2-0 Washburn Rural lead.

“We played a lot better, but a 2-goal lead in this setting against this team is hard to overcome,” Waldron said. “I’m proud of my team. They stayed the course. The conversations on the bench late in the game — they’re still trying to figure out ways to win it.”

Eighteen minutes into the second half, the Junior Blues scored again. It was the final goal of the night, as the Firebirds struggled to answer.

Despite the deficit, the team continued to fight. More opportunities to score came, but the Firebirds couldn’t get it done. The 3-0 loss ended their season with an 8-8-1 record.

The Firebirds will graduate 14 seniors. Waldron said that the class has made an immense impact on the program, both in their leadership and their skill on the pitch. The four captains this year — Somjai Sengchan, Nicholas Sprecker, Hudson Robinson and Jonathan Zheng — were all seniors. However, the Firebirds will bring back leaders who are ready to take the mantle.

Eli Stone, Caleb Huggins and Lickert are three returners who will play an important role in getting next year’s team ready.

“Next year starts now,” Stone said. “We have until this time next year to get better as a team.”

Stone said that energy is the one thing that the team can control, and that next year they’ll need to improve.

Due to the 14 seniors, the Firebirds have had a lot of solid players that were relegated to junior varsity. A few other players that played varsity will see their minutes increase with the roster void. Next year’s team will have to incorporate a lot of new skilled pieces that haven’t seen the varsity game much before. The trio of Stone, Huggins and Lickert said that it starts with the summer practices.

“From day one getting out on the field and working hard, getting in the weight room and getting stronger,” Huggins said of what’s next for the team. “Getting everyone to get their work in and show up for everything, so we can hit it hard next year.”

Other regional results

Lawrence lost 5-0 to Shawnee Mission West in the 6A East Regional 2 Championship. The Lions ended their season 8-9-1.

Baldwin beat Louisburg 3-0, winning their region and advancing to the 4-1A state tournament. The Bulldogs enter with a 15-1-2 record.

Eudora lost in the regional championship to Ottawa in sudden-death goals. The Cardinals finished their season 13-5-0.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State senior goalkeeper Yusuf Iskandrani corrals the ball in the first half of the regional championship against Washburn Rural on Thursday, October 31, 2024. The Firebirds lost 3-0.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State junior Marvin Boeger dribbles the ball in the regional championship on the road against Washburn Rural on Thursday, October 31, 2024. The Firebirds lost 3-0.