Saints Travel to Topeka

Game 10 (7-2-1)
1 October at Washburn Rural (1-1 2 OT’s)


We had a tall task tonight traveling to a very good Rural team with 4 key players (Farrar, Konnesky, Young, and Morrisette) in the infirmary. 

And we came out a little tentatively, giving up a goal again in the opening minutes. But something special happened tonight as we responded with a vengeance. We were a different team for the next 90 minutes. I could not be prouder of the boys. 

And we still had to defend a ton of long throws and way more corners than we like. But we attacked like crazy people creating many good scoring opportunities. Rural’s keeper made 3 saves on the goal line. We banged a couple of posts as well. 

I think we could have named umpteen Men of the Match, but 3 guys do deserve special mention.

Drew Welch had to play 100 minutes at the “6” tonight. And he had a special game, winning ball after ball, shutting down dribbler after dribbler. 

Barrett Kitts played a fine, fine 10 tonight. We found his feet and he made us go. He missed a couple of goals by a hair. He drilled a ball just wide of the post and headed one in overtime that the keeper dove to save. 

But the most surprising match came from a JV freshman who moved up for the game. Liam Ryan was spectacular. He actually scored what we thought was the game-winning goal, but we had a late offsides call. He had the tough task of dragging the stopper to the deep sweeper to open our attack. He did it well. He has such a quick shot. We haven’t seen anyone pull the trigger that quickly since Coleton Henning. And if you ever get a comparison to Coleton, you are receiving the highest compliment. Here's what many saw as the game-winning goal, unfortunately, not the one who mattered. Check it out.



Next week we have Blue Valley and Lee’s Summit. We hope to get some players back for those. 

Stats: 

First Half:

Saints:  Shots: 11 (5)   Corners: 4 (Ryan, White 2, Welch)

24:13 White (Bryson lofts it into the box)

Junior Blues

Shots: 2 (1) Corners: 3

19:35 Hill (beat us down our right side to box the ball for the back-post-knock-in)

Second Half and OT’s. 

Saints. Shots: 14 (9) Corners: 3 (Ryan, White, Eames)

Junior Blues:  Shots: 5 (1) Corners: 4


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