After pivotal red card, Augusta puts together big second half to advance

AUGUSTA, Kan. (Catch it Kansas) - With just over three minutes left in the first half of a competitive state quarterfinal matchup between Augusta and Topeka-Hayden, the center ref blew his whistle for what appeared to be a routine foul call. After some talking, the call quickly turned into the ref reaching for his back pocket and pulling a red card out, sending out the Wildcats’ Daxton Ham for the remainder of the match due to foul language.

That move, after a first half that you would give a slight edge to Hayden in, turned things around in a hurry for the Orioles playing a man up.

After break in the 50th minute, Payton Ball took a corner kick, sending it in to the Orioles’ leading scorer Kaden Kearney who finished with the header for the game’s first scoring. 11 minutes later, it was another corner off the foot of ball that lead to a goal; this went to Cody Meckel, who just snuck it in off the far post to give Augusta an insurance goal.

They were far from finished, with Logan Ruddle weaving his way through the defense to find a clean look for the match’s third goal, and Kearney would make it a brace, converting the third corner kick of the match before coach Dusty Buell emptied the bench, the Orioles advancement secured.

Peyton Carselowey completed his 7th clean sheet of the year, keeping the Wildcats out of goal after a couple close calls in the opening 40 minutes.

The win moves Augusta to 17-2 on the year, and marks the furthest the Orioles have ever advanced in the state tournament. Their road gets immensely tougher next, with a match against 5-time defending champion Bishop Miege set for 5:00 Friday at Topeka’s Hummer Park. Trinity Academy will meet Tonganoxie in the other semifinal contest for Class 4-1A.

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