photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence freshman Katelyn Valbuena battles for the ball in a 5-1 loss to Mill Valley in the regional championship game at Mill Valley on Thursday, May 21, 2026, in Shawnee.

SHAWNEE – The 2026 season was the best season in Lawrence girls soccer history, with 11 wins and a first-ever regional championship appearance. But on Thursday, the season ended as Lawrence fell 5-1 to Mill Valley in the regional championship.

“I’m super proud of how they’ve been all year,” Lawrence coach Joe Comparato said. “I told them it’s OK to be sad that the season is over and that they won’t play together anymore, but we have to remember what we did. This is the best girls team in LHS history… The only thing we didn’t do was break the scoring effort.”

Five total goals were scored in the first half, but only one came from Lawrence. Senior Sidra Besson scored a penalty-kick goal, but the Jaguars notched four goals within the first 40 minutes.

“She’s definitely our golden boot winner this year,” Comparato said of Besson. “She scored in almost every match, and she’s made it count for us.”

Senior twins Ginny and Sidra Besson joined the team as juniors, and the two became consistent contributors as forwards. They said their bond with each other and the team helped make the most of their experience with Lawrence. Getting to build a legacy at Lawrence with the other seniors in their class and to do so together was a highlight they both share.

“We’ve been playing together for 15 years,” Sidra Besson said. “I hate playing without her. Any time I go into a game and she’s not there, I’m just dreading it.”

Mill Valley’s defense gave Lawrence trouble, as the Lions were unable to record as many shots on goal as the team is accustomed to. The Jaguars added to their lead with a goal four minutes into the second half that brought about the game’s final score.

“They’re a strong team,” Comparato said. “Their midfield is so strong. They were winning every ball, and they were making it count. It’s nothing fancy, they’re not doing anything crazy, but they’re so fundamentally sound and work so well as a team, that’s a testament to (Mill Valley coach) Justin (Crawford).”

Late in the game, Comparato and assistant coach Melle Dye were debating taking the seniors out so the group could get one final round of applause as they walked to the sideline. But the coaches decided against it, as the senior group was simply playing too hard, even while down four goals.

To Comparato, that’s what makes this Lawrence team special. The Lions picked up the trait over the last few years as the team had to battle in close losses and learned how to keep fighting to get close wins. Their effort, no matter the situation, is what made the 2026 Lawrence girls soccer team the best in school history.

“Their effort and determination and tenacity, even when down four goals… you would think they were in a tie fighting for a win,” Comparato said. “There’s something to whether you want to revel in the seniors, but when they’re fighting that hard… I just couldn’t be prouder.”

Lawrence had such a historic season in large part because of the seniors on the team who started on varsity as freshmen and continued to grow into an 11-win team as their careers concluded. And while replacing the seniors will be a tall task for Lawrence, there are bright spots among the returners, with an ideal of striving toward for the team’s play style and chemistry that the seniors set.

“We set a bar for years after, and that’s something to be proud of,” Ginny Besson said. “Joe’s going to tell the freshmen next year how great the seniors were last year, and that’s us. That’s going to be cool.”

Goalkeeper Lillian Poteete, defender MJ Sachs and forward Rylee Williams were all regular starters as sophomores after playing extensively as freshmen. This year’s freshman class includes forward Layla Simmons and midfielder Katelyn Valbuena, who both grew into larger roles as the year went on. Those Lions and the others who practiced daily and saw the field in spurts got to see what made the Lawrence team successful, and continuing to build on the blueprint the 2026 Lions made will be key in continuing the success of the team in the future.

“We will continue,” Comparato said. “They know what it takes. All of these seniors were freshmen on this varsity team way back when, and know they know. So we’ll keep working.”