photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State junior midfielder Whittney Bogart battles for the ball in a 2-2 tie against Olathe North at Free State on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Lawrence.

Free State girls soccer tied 2-2 against Olathe North at home on Thursday, moving to 5-7-1 on the season.

The Firebirds got down early in the game but were able to fight back and tie it up late in the second half. The resiliency of the team was a major positive of the game. Free State coach Joe Waldron said there are some ties where a coach doesn’t feel good about it afterward, and there are some ties that do feel good. This game was one of the latter.

“I’m proud of us for coming back and being down two and tying it,” Waldron said. “We had chances early in the game to go ahead, and we didn’t.”

The Firebirds made a strong push early that didn’t result in any goals. Waldron said the team needs to avoid playing uptight when it misses opportunities like that, which he felt the Firebirds did as they came back to tie it.

“A lot of it comes down to players being committed to making the play when it happens,” Waldron said. “Players make plays — we’re putting the ball in the right spot. We’ve got the right people on the ball. The formula is there and working — we’re just falling a little short at the moment.”

Olathe North scored with under five minutes left in the opening half. Free State goalkeeper Merrit Hale blocked a shot on goal, but the Eagles were able to score on the rebound. In the fourth minute after halftime, the Eagles scored again as Hale went to block a shot high, and the ball bounced up from her glove and into the top of the net.

From there, the Firebirds were able to figure some things out both offensively and defensively. Waldron said he liked the team’s problem-solving in the game, and they showed better possession. Hale finished strong with numerous blocked shots and tackles to save the Firebirds.

“I think positive talk on the field helps us get into the right headspace,” Hale said. “Sometimes, after we get scored on, we go into this mind space where we’re going to lose. We’ve really tried to enforce the positive talk and not hang our heads after a goal because the game is not over after 1-0, 2-0.”

Senior Taylor Woods gave the Firebirds some life with a deep goal from around 30 yards out that hit the net just under the crossbar with 26 minutes left in regulation. The Firebirds kept pushing, with freshman forward Lauren Woods and sophomore Siena Schamberger fighting through the defense.

Taylor Woods scored the game-tying goal with under 11 minutes in regulation on an assist from Lauren Woods. The Firebirds had a couple more opportunities late but couldn’t bring home a winning goal in regulation.

In the two 10-minute overtimes, the Firebirds had some good opportunities with their forwards but were unable to get the ball in the net. Hale faced an onslaught of shots in the second overtime and came out on top. Even after being cleated in the shin, Hale stayed in to fight out the final seconds and secure the tie.

“I just think of only what I have to do and positioning,” Hale said. “They were playing a lot over the top, and I had to come out and get the ball. You have to be ready in a split second to make a split-second decision and get there. You can’t ever turn your mind off in the game.”

The Firebirds’ goal in these last few games is to keep improving their record so they can improve their seeding for the regional tournament. A tie against the Eagles did that, although the team is hungry for better results next week in their final three games. Three wins could result in a home playoff game, meaning the team could avoid a six-hour drive that gets the team’s legs tight from sitting for so long.

“I feel like we’ve struggled with (muscle tightness) on some of those games six hours away,” Taylor Woods said. “And, obviously, getting to play in front of a home crowd to cheer us on is big.”

The Firebirds are at Topeka High on Monday, at Gardner Edgerton on Tuesday and home against Shawnee Mission South on Thursday. Those three games will be a determining factor in how the playoffs go for the Firebirds.

“I think we have a promising shot to go far in the playoffs,” Hale said. “We’re looking to win regionals like we did last year, but we need to focus on our three games next week.”

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State junior defender Cara Jeffries kicks the ball on a free kick in a 2-2 tie against Olathe North at Free State on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State sophomore forward Siena Schamberger dribbles the ball upfield in a 2-2 tie against Olathe North at Free State on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State senior midfielder Maeve Nichols passes the ball to a teammate in a 2-2 tie against Olathe North at Free State on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State freshman forward Lauren Woods runs past the defense in a 2-2 tie against Olathe North at Free State on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Lawrence.