photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence freshman Katelyn Valbuena dribbles past the defense in a road win over Shawnee Mission North on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 in Overland Park.

OVERLAND PARK — After back-to-back losses, the Lawrence girls soccer team won 6-0 over Shawnee Mission North with a dominant performance in set pieces.

Four of Lawrence’s six goals came on corner kicks, and Lawrence coach Joe Comparato said every set piece had an opportunity to score, which is important for the Lions who have a lot of Sunflower League games left.

“They kind of needed this to blow some steam off,” Comparato said. “Our set piece play tonight was fantastic… In order to succeed in this league, you have to be able to defend set pieces and you have to score on set pieces.”

The team works on set pieces often in practice, but Comparato said a key for success in the area is to not let the moment get too big. Comparato said Lawrence “played natural” in its set pieces, which is why the team managed to score four goals from them.

It was a windy night, especially in the first half, which challenged the Lions with their ball control early on. That led to the ball staying near the Lions’ net for the first few minutes, but once the team settled in, the Lions didn’t allow many scoring chances for the Bison.

Lawrence changed some things up defensively after last week’s 2-0 loss to Mill Valley and will keep to the same shape and only alter the line of confrontation on a game-by-game basis.

One of the adjustments came with moving sophomore Rylee Williams to the wing and inserting freshman Katelyn Valbuena into the midfield fully, and the switch has paid off well so far. Despite her youth, Valbuena has impressed her coach and brought a commanding presence to the midfield.

“Our midfield is really tough now,” Comparato said. “She’s just a solid player. It’s hard to imagine she’s only a freshman. She was a little timid her first few times out there, but she played 80 minutes against Mill Valley and could’ve played 80 this game. She’ll get headers — she’s the shortest kid on the field among the trees, but she’ll get headers, so she’s just a fighter.”

Once the Lions got settled, the team started to push the ball with its midfielders, particularly Valbuena, senior Elise Lawrence and senior Sidra Besson. That provided scoring chances for seniors Stella Comparato and Ginny Besson, who combined for half of the team’s goals.

Stella Comparato scored the first goal 19 minutes into the game from the left wing on a kick that bounced the ball under the goalkeeper. Sidra Besson and freshman Layla Simmons nearly connected on a goal five minutes later, and Ginny Besson nearly scored while taking the ball up the middle of the field and deep into the attacking third.

Lawrence got its second goal in the 30th minute with senior Erin Derby setting up Sidra Besson on a corner kick for goal. The Lions scored twice more in the final 10 minutes of the half, both off the leg of Ginny Besson. She beat the goalkeeper to the ball on the first of the two, and a minute after her goal, she scored again during a corner kick.

The Lions added to their lead early in the second half as senior Maggie Wagner scored the fourth goal off a corner kick in the sixth minute of the half. While the trio of Wagner and Ginny and Sidra Besson put the ball in the net, Comparato was complimentary of Derby’s ball placement on the corner kicks.

Derby scored a goal of her own late in the game on the right wing, giving Lawrence the 6-0 lead that proved to be the final score.

Lawrence will be on the road again on Thursday as the Lions take on Olathe West at 7:15 p.m.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence senior Stella Comparato pushes the ball upfield in a road win over Shawnee Mission North on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 in Overland Park.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence senior Sidra Besson starts a free kick in a road win over Shawnee Mission North on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 in Overland Park.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence senior Elise Lawrence looks to pass in a road win over Shawnee Mission North on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 in Overland Park.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence sophomore MJ Sachs watches the ball in a road win over Shawnee Mission North on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 in Overland Park.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence senior Ginny Besson catches up with the ball in a road win over Shawnee Mission North on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 in Overland Park.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence sophomore MJ Sachs defends in a road win over Shawnee Mission North on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 in Overland Park.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence senior Sidra Besson possesses the ball in a road win over Shawnee Mission North on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 in Overland Park.