Maize South boys soccer back in Kansas high school state semifinals after 3-overtime win
Up against a goalkeeper who was seemingly turning everything away, the Maize South boys soccer team was nervously watching the clock in overtime of its Class 5A quarterfinal match against Andover on Tuesday night.
Andover, with eight fewer wins to its record, was playing with nothing to lose and riding the high of a superb performance from senior goalkeeper Braden Rupp, who made a handful of jaw-dropping saves in regulation and then turned away a penalty kick in the first overtime.
Maize South, meanwhile, had everything at stake and certainly felt the pressure of continuing a perfect season and returning to the state semifinals for the fourth time in the last five years.
“We were minutes away from possibly going to penalty kicks and anything can happen and any team can win on any night there,” Maize South coach Rey Ramirez said. “We were trying to do everything we could to avoid a shootout seeing how their goalkeeper was having such a great night.”
After more than 100 minutes of seeing shots hit the crossbar and other would-be goals turned away by Rupp, Maize South finally found the back of the net with less than two minutes left in the third overtime when Junior Quezada scored the winning goal of a 2-1 victory for the Mavericks.
Maize South (19-0) will face St. Thomas Aquinas (8-9-2) in Friday’s 5 p.m. semifinal at Hummer Sports Complex in Topeka.
“It was an emotional rollercoaster for us,” Ramirez said. “We had so many opportunities throughout the game and there was so much excitement, so to finally see the ball go into the back of the net one last time on our home field this season, it was just exhilarating. There was some sense of relief, but also excitement knowing what’s to come now because of that goal.”
Maize South took a 1-0 lead in the 31st minute with Quezada again involved with the goal. This time it was his crafty run through multiple defenders that created the goal, as he was tripped just outside of the box but the advantage was played and teammate Brayden Figueroa was there to crank in the goal.
Andover scored the equalizer 10 minutes following halftime, as senior captain Grayson Anderson finished off the goal from a corner kick.
Due to an injury to star forward Miles Edwards, Maize South moved Dylan Gorman up the field from the back line to replace Edwards on the wing. It was Gorman who played the fateful cross into the box that connected with Quezada for the game-winning goal.
The cross was actually slightly deflected off the head of an Andover defender, but Quezada was right there to collect the ball right in front of goal. He showed impeccable control to settle the ball crashing into the box and the composure to slot the ball past Rupp, which proved to be no easy feat over the course of the night.
“Junior had incredible composure under pressure in one of the most important moments of the season and he was able to tuck it away for us,” Ramirez said. “Dylan played an excellent ball and we found a way to fight through adversity.
“It’s a great opportunity for our boys to learn and grow heading into the most important games of the season.”
Newton returns to semifinals for first time in two decades
For the first time since 2000, the Newton boys soccer team is headed back to the state semifinals for just the second time in program history.
The Railers erased a goal deficit in the second half against Goddard, punctuating the comeback with a penalty kick finished by senior star Collin Hershberger, who had one stopped earlier in the match, to give Newton a 2-1 lead in the 78th minute.
Newton improved to 17-2 this season, a school record for wins in a season, and will face Blue Valley Southwest (16-3) in the Class 5A semifinals at 7 p.m. Friday at Hummer Sports Park in Topeka.
Goddard (13-6) nearly pulled off the upset thanks to a superb showing from goalkeeper Ryan Bay, who blocked Hershberger’s first penalty kick and many other shots in the first half to keep the Lions in the game.
Carson Achey briefly gave Goddard a 1-0 lead 17 minutes after halftime, but Newton’s Erick Valdiva Manguia scored the equalizer for Newton less than five minutes later.
With overtime looming, Hershberger earned his second chance at a penalty kick in the 78th minute when he was tripped in the penalty area. Given a chance at redemption, Hershberger calmly buried his kick from the spot in the bottom left corner of goal.
Kansas high school boys soccer quarterfinal scores
Class 6A quarterfinal scores
Dodge City 4, Lawrence Free State 0
Washburn Rural 3, Derby 2
Mill Valley 3, Shawnee Mission East 2 (PKs 5-4)
Olathe West 3, Shawnee Mission West 1
Class 5A quarterfinal scores
Maize South 2, Andover 1 (3 OT)
Newton 2, Goddard 1
St. Thomas Aquinas 1, Kansas City Sumner 0
Blue Valley Southwest 2, St. James Academy 1
Class 4-1A quarterfinal scores
McPherson 1, Buhler 0
Wichita Trinity Academy 3, Wichita Classical 1
Bishop Miege 2, Kansas City Christian 1
Baldwin 1, Bishop Ward 0
Kansas high school boys soccer state schedule
Class 6A state schedule at Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita
Friday’s semifinals
Dodge City (19-0) vs. Olathe West (17-2), 5 p.m.
Mill Valley (15-1-1) vs. Washburn Rural (16-3), 7
Saturday’s finals
Third-place game, Noon
Championship game, 2
Class 5A state schedule at Hummer Sports Park in Topeka
Friday’s semifinals
Maize South (19-0) vs. St. Thomas Aquinas (8-9-2), 5 p.m.
Blue Valley Southwest (16-3) vs. Newton (17-2), 7
Saturday’s finals
Third-place game, Noon
Championship game, 2
Class 4-1A state schedule at De Soto Soccer Complex
Friday’s semifinals
Baldwin (14-4-1) vs. McPherson (8-11), 5 p.m.
Wichita Trinity Academy (8-9-2) vs. Bishop Miege (13-5-1), 7
Saturday’s finals
Third-place game, Noon
Championship game, 2
