photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

The Eudora girls soccer team celebrates after being awarded its championship plaque after defeating Atchison in the regional championship game at Benedictine College on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Atchison.

Atchison – After losing in the Class 4-1A regional finals each of the past two seasons, Eudora’s girls soccer team left no doubt Thursday night, shutting out Atchison, 2-0, at Legacy Field on the campus of Benedictine College to give the Cardinals their first-ever regional championship.

“This means a lot to us to be able to do this,” said Eudora senior Jaden Brooks, who scored the Cardinals’ first goal of the match. “In my freshman year, we lost in the first round and then the past two years, we got to the region finals, but lost. To be able to win a region title as a senior means a lot. This shows how much we’re building the program.”

Eudora (11-5-2) now moves on to the Class 4-1A state quarterfinals, which will be played Monday. The Cardinals will be on the road again, traveling to top-seeded Louisburg (15-3) to take on the Wildcats. Kickoff at Wildcat Stadium is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. The Eudora-Louisburg pairing is a rematch of a regular-season contest from April 24, when Louisburg beat the Cardinals, 2-1, at Eudora.

Eudora pressured Atchison (14-4) from the opening kickoff Thursday, earning a corner kick in the first two minutes of the match before scoring its first goal at the 3:35 mark. Payton Chappelle took the corner kick for the Cardinals and her service into the penalty area found Brooks, who put the ball in the back of the net to give Eudora an early 1-0 advantage.

“Coming out and getting a goal early was huge,” said Eudora head coach Darren Erpelding, whose team has won four straight matches. “It allowed us to really take control of the match and we were able to make adjustments as the half went on and create more chances.”

As the first half wore on, neither team was able to score, but the majority of the match was played in Atchison’s end of the pitch as Eudora kept the pressure on the Phoenix, which had an eight-match winning streak snapped with the loss.

The Cardinals broke through again just before halftime, again netting a goal on a corner kick at the 39:46 mark. Chappelle again sent the ball into the penalty area and this time, sophomore Coco Shutt got the ball and scored to send Eudora into halftime with a 2-0 lead.

“Getting that second goal was really huge,” said Brooks. “I think that gave us some breathing room and let us play more. It really let us go after them in the second half.”

Eudora continued to control the match in the final 40 minutes, maintaining offensive pressure on the Atchison goal and not allowing the Phoenix to mount many sustained offensive attacks. The Cardinals outshot Atchison, 11-2, for the match and had eight corner kicks to Atchison’s one. Abby Fager and Allison Allison each played a half in goal for Eudora and shared the Cardinals’ fifth shutout of the season.

“(Winning the region title) feels awesome,” said Erpelding. “I’m so happy for these girls. We don’t talk much about how much this team is a family, but this is something that all of the girls – both ones who are on the team now and players from past teams – can be proud of. I can’t be more happy.”

Brooks said the team’s depth – Eudora regularly substituted seven of their 10 field players in both halves as well as switching out goalies during the match – as well as a higher skill level this season has helped the Cardinals take the next step.

“We play well together,” said Brooks. “Everyone is ready to be on the field and do what we need to do to win. Plus, I think this year we have more soccer players rather than players who happen to play soccer. We’ve got a lot of club players on our team who have been able to come in and play really well and play fast, and that’s made us better.”

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

The Eudora girls soccer teams hugs and huddles after defeating Atchison in the regional championship game at Benedictine College in Atchison on Thursday, May 22, 2025.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

The Eudora girls soccer team poses with its championship plaque after defeating Atchison in the regional championship game at Benedictine College in Atchison on Thursday, May 22, 2025.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

The Eudora girls soccer team runs their plaque over to its fans after defeating Atchison in the regional championship game on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at Benedictine College in Atchison.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

The Eudora girls soccer team celebrates with its championship plaque after defeating Atchison in the Cardinals’ regional championship game at Benedictine College on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Atchison.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

The Eudora girls soccer team celebrates on the field after defeating Atchison in the regional championship game at Benedictine College on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Atchison.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora sophomore Coco Shutt goes to high-five freshman Lillian Mueting after the Cardinals’ second goal of the regional championship game against Atchison at Benedictine College on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Atchison.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora freshman Kylie Bourne (left) embraces sophomore Coco Shutt after the Cardinals’ second goal of the regional championship game against Atchison at Benedictine College on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Atchison.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora freshman Lillian Mueting throws the ball in to her teammates during the Cardinals’ regional championship game against Atchison on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at Benedictine College in Atchison.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora freshman Kylie Bourne passes an Atchison defender during the Cardinals’ regional championship game at Benedictine College on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Atchison.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora freshman Kylie Bourne leads the play down the field during the Cardinals’ regional championship game against Atchison at Benedictine College on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Atchison.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora freshman Lillian Mueting pushes the ball down the field during the Cardinals’ regional championship game against Atchison at Benedictine College on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Atchison.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora senior Jaden Brooks fights to put get the ball past Atchison defenders for the Cardinals’ first goal of the game on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at Benedictine College in Atchison.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora senior Jaden Brooks attempts to beat an Atchison defender to the ball during the Cardinals’ regional championship game at Benedictine College on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Atchison.