photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State junior Siena Schamberger brings the ball down the field in a 2-0 loss to Gardner Edgerton on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in Lawrence.

Free State’s girls soccer senior night ended in a disappointing 2-0 loss to Gardner Edgerton as the eight seniors played their final game at Free State High School.

Despite entering with a 3-10-1 record, the Firebirds continued to play hard and come out ready to play. Free State coach Tyson Heck said it’s because of the senior class’s competitive spirit and drive to win.

“The seniors have never let me down,” Heck said. “They have a lot of heart. They continue to fight. Over and over we’ve consistently come up short, and as much as they have not had the success they want, they still have the great attitude to come back and push and push.”

But ultimately, some late miscues on the defensive end in the final 20 minutes of the game gave the Trailblazers two goals and the road win.

Offensively, the Firebirds’ scoring woes continued as the team was held scoreless for the fifth time this season. While the offense didn’t score, the offensive process was an improvement from prior games as the team continued to work on its short passing game up the field leading into scoring chances in the final third.

“We had our moments where we did pass the ball well,” Heck said. “We resort to long passes and ones that don’t get through. We haven’t been a team that wins 50-50s, so having a lot of short passes for us has been a success of ours, and you see it in some of our games.”

The Firebirds kept possession for much of the first half and had a few chances with senior Madeleine Landry and junior Siena Schamberger being on the receiving end of long passes, but the Firebirds were unable to complete the long ball play.

In the second half, the Firebirds turned to more long ball play over small ball play, and the scoring chances slowed. On the other end, the defense wore down with back line defenders taking several hits. It resulted in a few miscues that the Trailblazers took advantage of.

“Our back line plays the entire game,” Heck said. “They’re exhausted. They don’t get any breaks during the game or even during the season… Defensive breakdowns killed us tonight, and Gardner (Edgerton) did a good job of exposing that when we fell apart.”

In the 67th minute, Gardner Edgerton scored the first goal of the game as a Trailblazer forward beat a Free State defender to the ball and popped the ball up and into the net.

Free State had one of its best scoring chances not long after with Landry possessing the ball deep on the right wing, but the Firebirds were unable to get a clear shot on the goal.

Ten minutes after Gardner Edgerton’s first goal, the Trailblazers score the game-sealing goal after the Firebirds were unable to corral the rebound of a blocked Gardner Edgerton shot.

Free State will end its regular season on the road at Shawnee Mission South (3-10-0) on Thursday, a team that is currently on a seven game losing streak where the Raiders have failed to score a goal in that stretch.

“These next few days and practices will be getting the team in touch with where their hearts are at and what they want,” Heck said.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State junior Siena Schamberger possesses the ball in a 2-0 loss to Gardner Edgerton on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State senior Madeleine Landry touches the ball in a 2-0 loss to Gardner Edgerton on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State senior Lauren Jackson changes directions in a 2-0 loss to Gardner Edgerton on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State senior Riley Prier passes the ball in a 2-0 loss to Gardner Edgerton on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State junior Siena Schamberger brings the ball down the field in a 2-0 loss to Gardner Edgerton on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in Lawrence.