photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora senior Jayla Erpelding celebrates with freshman Payton Chappelle after a goal was scored against Tonganoxie Monday, May 13th, 2024, in Eudora.

Eudora senior captain Jayla Erpelding scored a trio of goals to push the seventh-seeded Cardinals past the No. 10 Tonganoxie Chieftains with a 5-2 victory in the first round of the 4-1A East Regional on a rain-sodden Monday night in Eudora.

With the win, Eudora advances to Topeka to face the No. 2 seed Topeka-Cair Paravel/Eskridge-Mission Valley (11-4-1) on Thursday.

Eudora had previously walked away from Tonganoxie with a 3-1 road victory on April 4, and the Cardinals closed out the season sweep against the Chieftains to improve their overall record to 10-7-1. Tonganoxie finishes at 7-9-1.

Eudora came out on Monday with an intense offensive start, as it scored four of its five goals in the first half. Junior forward Jaden Brooks bolted downfield to secure the first point in the 10th minute from an assist by Erpelding for an early Cardinal lead.

“I feel like more recently as this season has gone on, for example this game and Ottawa are huge, like we just came out and (pounded) them from the get,” Erpelding said.

Scoring came to a standstill for the next 16 minutes amid strong defensive efforts by both squads until two quick Eudora goals within four minutes expanded its advantage to 3-0.

The Cardinals found their second score of the evening as Erpelding netted a goal in the 30th minute, with junior Brette Hayden coming off the bench to contribute the assist. A freshman-to-freshman connection followed for the Cardinals as Payton Chappelle headed her goal from a corner kick assisted by Kambrea Kerr.

With just over a minute until halftime, Erpelding added another goal that was set up by Brooks for a 4-0 lead as the Chieftains struggled to get into an offensive rhythm in the first half.

“With the weather kind of circling around, we had to make sure that we had the lead going into halftime for sure because one lightning strike can end it all,” Eudora head coach Darren Erpelding said. “So that was kind of our game plan was let’s get on the attack.”

An aggressive first-half performance featured a variety of fouls from both teams, including a total of four yellow cards split evenly between squads.

A momentum shift opened up the second half as the Chieftains finally connected in the 56th minute. After a tie-up between Tonganoxie freshman Marissa Dick and Eudora goalkeeper Natalynn Tuckness, Dick scored on a penalty kick to lessen the Chieftain deficit to 4-1, denying Eudora the opportunity for its fifth shutout of the season.

But the comeback started too late for Tonganoxie as Erpelding continued her dominance throughout the second half and tacked on her third goal of the night on a penalty kick in the 70th minute to extend Eudora’s lead back to four at 5-1.

“I was definitely just playing my heart out,” she said. “I know when I have a lot of energy and when the goals start to fall and I start going, everyone comes up with me, so it feels really good to get three tonight with my last game here (at home) with the team.”

Tonganoxie scored the last goal of the game from another freshman, Natalie Loving, in the 75th minute for a final score of 5-2.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora head coach Darren Erpelding looks on as his team defeated Tonganoxie, Monday May 13th, 2024, in Eudora.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora freshman Miley G. Maxwell dribbles the ball downfield against Tonganoxie Monday, May 13th, 2024, in Eudora.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora senior Xin Clobes breaks away from two defenders Monday, May 13, 2024, against Tonganoxie in Eudora.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora junior Jaden Brooks knocks the ball away from Tonganoxie’s Charli Moberly on Monday May 13th, 2024.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora freshman Kambrea Kerr dribbles the ball downfield against Tonganoxie Monday May 13th, 2024.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora senior Jayla Erpelding celebrates a hat trick with freshman Evelyne Steele on Monday, May 13th, 2024, in Eudora.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora freshman Payton Chappelle headers the ball in for a goal against Tonganoxie on Monday, May 13th, 2024, in Eudora.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora senior Jayla Erpelding scores a goal against Tonganoxie on Monday, May 13th, 2024, in Eudora.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora freshman Payton Chappelle celebrates with junior Jaden Brookes after a goal against Tonganoxie on Monday, May 13, 2024, in Eudora.