photo by: Nathan Swaffar/Special to the Journal-World

The Baldwin boys soccer team poses for a photo at the 4-1A state title game in Wichita on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. The Bulldogs lost 3-1 to Rose Hill.

Wichita – For as special a season as the Baldwin High School boys soccer team had leading up to its shot at a state title, the tears flowing on Saturday night did not come as a result of jubilation from a victory.

Rose Hill (19-2) thwarted Baldwin’s (17-4) championship quest with a 3-1 result in the 4-1A boys soccer title game at Stryker Sports Complex on Saturday night. The Rockets controlled most of the game, constantly putting pressure on the Bulldogs’ defense, while Baldwin had little momentum going forward for most of the game.

Rose Hill announced its presence in the affair almost immediately, pushing the ball forward and producing a shot on goal within the first 30 seconds, setting the tone of the rest of the first half. The Rockets’ attack was relentless early on, forcing the Bulldog goalkeeper Cason Dick into multiple saves. Even though Baldwin’s defense held firm for the moment, there was little offensive presence.

Finally, Rose Hill broke through with 18:08 left in the first half when Rocket midfielder Jordy Kaba found the back of the net on a shot on the edge of the 18-yard box to give his team a 1-0 advantage.

Baldwin head coach Ryan Cox said Rose Hill’s speed was something they knew could be a concern coming in, but mentioned it was a different animal defending it on the pitch.

“I think it kind of took us by surprise,” Cox said. “They looked fast on film, but so do we. And it was a little bit of a surprise to us to see how fast they actually were in person, and took a little bit of time to adjust to it.”

Even though the Rockets continued pushing forward, the Bulldogs earned a penalty with 4:42 remaining in the first half. Baldwin’s Cooper Carr slotted home the equalizer to even things up at 1-1 heading into halftime.

Rose Hill again had a near-complete monopoly when it came to offensive opportunities early in the second half, and it paid off quicker than in the first when Kaba scored his second goal of the match with 34:30 to give the Rockets a 2-1 lead.

Although Baldwin kept Rose Hill off the board initially following the score, Rose Hill added an insurance goal with 12 and a half minutes to go to make it 3-1, courtesy of a score from Ethan Helget. The two-goal deficit proved too much for Baldwin to overcome.

“They were just relentless. They just kept coming and coming,” Cox said. “In soccer, it just becomes a matter of time before a team like that breaks through, and they broke through and found the goal. Then they got that third one, and that’s where it was.”

Despite the defeat, Cox had immense praise for his seniors, who ended their high school careers with three final four and two state title match appearances.

“This group is a special group of boys to coach, to be around, and to have seen play for four years plus some,” Cox said. “I’ve known them for a while, and they just have had that drive and that heart their whole entire career.”