A day after falling in their respective semifinal games, Topeka Hayden and Rose Hill battled for third place in Class 4-3-2-1A. Little did both teams know they would also have to battle the wind. The Wildcats played with the wind at their backs and took advantage early, and cruised to a 4-1 victory.
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“They took their shots and we didn’t take our shots,” Rose Hill head coach Jerry Treat said. “They had a couple great strikes with the wind and we had no chance at saving them.”
At about 35 mph, the wind was obviously a factor. The team that had the wind at their backs took a majority of the possessions throughout the game.
Hayden capitalized with 13 shots on goal in the first 40 minutes compared to the Rockets one shot. Hayden capitalized on four. The first three goals for the Wildcats were scored within four minutes of each other.
“We focused and we had the wind early and we took advantage of our opportunities and they did that to their credit,” he said.
Seven minutes into the game junior forward Brian Kongs scored the first goal for the Wildcats assisted by junior forward Pedro Ortega. Ortega also scored the fourth and final goal in the 28th minute of the first half.
At halftime Hayden went into the locker room ahead 4-0.
The game turned in Rose Hill’s favor early in the second half after senior Dominic Swindler scored the Rockets lone goal from outside the goalie box.
Just a few minutes later Rose Hill was given three more opportunities to score but came up short.
“I really don’t think there was a turning point in the game,” Treat said. “We let them score too early. They just got a four goal lead in the first half and it was insurmountable if we would have gotten a goal we got a goal in the first ten minutes but if we would have gotten the second goal that hit both poles and dropped we would have had a much better chance.”
Despite Friday's loss in the semifinals, Kreutzer said taking third in state was a huge win for Hayden.
“Were kind of vindicated after losing the game last night," he said. "It left a bad taste in our mouths and today we walk away feeling a lot better and it’s because they played like they’ve been playing all season."
KC Christian Takes Championship
Kansas City Christian battled St. James Academy for the championship, with Christian winning 2-0. It is the fourth title for the school, having previously won in 2002, 05 & 08.
St. James Academy was looking for their second title, having previously won in 2009.
