The Rematch: 5A 2022 State Title Match
Game 15: (12-2-1); EKL (4-1-1)
6 May vs. Mill Valley (3-1)
2023 STATS
What a great match to play going into post season. With Mill Valley moving up to 6A for playoffs this season, the fact that both schools wanted to play this match says something good about high school sports. Both schools return pretty much their line-ups from that state final last season, and both schools knew that one of them might well be the number one team in the state of Kansas this season—so why not decide it on the field.
The Saints' starting lineup did return Zinkus as she had recovered from her injury on Tuesday night against Miege. And we needed everyone on board for this one as the heat was on. The match even contained water breaks for the first time all year.
We just had a great high school soccer match with good performances all around. I just thought some of our special players had special games, and that was the difference.
We can start with Sydney as she accounted for the game-winning goal and the key second half goal that got us back to a two-goal lead. Two minutes into the match, she was surrounded by four Jags who eventually fouled her at the top of the box—error, direct kick—goal.
And then with her first touch in the front third of the second half, the Jags took her down in the box—error, PK, goal.
Jane Hansen just had some great one-on-one defensive stands against some standout Mill Valley talent, and Maggie Payne had one of her career-best matches (check it out) that included several diving saves and a few of her big-time catches in heavy traffic during Mill Valley corners—and don't forget her hockey assist on the PK on that great quick throw-out to Marn.
The Cabantac to O’Keefe goal was a show stopper—and Brooklyn finding Syd for that huge PK in the second half virtually ended the match.
And, the only goal we surrendered was once again on a corner kick. But that did not mean that Mill Valley did not get chances from the field, especially, as they did numerous times in the second half. The Saints, however, got some heroic one-v-one defense and some key head-clears.
Coach Brown did his best to get the starters some good breaks as the bench played more than what has been normal this year against, one of the best, if not the best team, we have played this season—so quite a team effort.
The Jags should be one of the favorites for a 6A title this month.
We will finish regular season Monday with just a huge match against Blue Valley at their place to decide who wins the EKL.
STATS:
First Half:
Saints: Shots: 5 (4) Corners: 4 (Marn, Watts, O'Keefe 2)
38:27 Watts (Syd is fouled around the 20-21, and she buries the direct kick)
12:01 O'Keefe (Cabantac beautifully slides her through-ball to Maggie's lead foot)
Jags: Shots: 6 (3) Corners: 0
Second Half:
Saints: 3 (2) Corners: 0
18:48 Watts (PK, as Sydney takes the Marn pass (off the quick Payne throw-out) into the box where she is taken down from behind)
Jags: Shots: 13 (8) Corners: 4
30:27 Page (Knight lifts the corner to the back post where Page buries it with a header)
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