By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
In may take awhile for what Cair Paravel Latin's girls soccer team accomplished Friday to fully sink in.
But suffice it to say, the Lions know that their 9-0 win over Kansas City Christian at the Bettis Family Sports Complex was big.
Friday's romp gave the Lions a regional championship and a berth in next Tuesday's Class 4A-1A state quarterfinals in the school's first season as a full Kansas State High School Activities Association member.
“Honestly, I have nothing to compare it to,” Cair Paravel coach Doug Woolery said about the win. “Our girls soccer program has been pretty successful over the years, but we’ve never had the opportunity to compete at this level, so it’s really exciting for us. It probably hasn’t really set in yet.”
Cair Paravel senior Alyssa Carlson said the regional title is definitely something to be proud of.
“It’s been a joy to do things we’ve never done before and get an award that we’ve never had before,'' Carlson said.
Cair Paravel Latin celebrates its Class 4A-1A regional soccer championship Friday at the Bettis Family Sports Complex. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Cair Paravel, which had received a bye in the first round of regionals, has the lowest enrollment among the Kansas schools fielding a soccer program, but Woolery said his team is up to the challenge.
“Our girls soccer program is sort of an anomaly,” Woolery said. “We beat Seaman twice. We beat Topeka High. We beat Washburn Rural’s (junior varsity). We’ve competed at that level, but we’ve never been a KSHSAA team. My girls play like they are a big school team.”
The Lions were never really challenged after freshman Trinity Childs scored two quick goals Friday.
Childs achieved a three-goal hat trick by halftime and finished the game with four goals.
Junior Jaley Barkley and freshman Corinne Stapleton also added goals as the Lions took a 5-0 advantage at the half and freshman Katherine Keys got a hat trick for Cair Paravel in the second half.
Sophomore Sage Schwartz was credited with three assists while Keys, Barkley and sophomore Tess Ewing also had assists.
Sophomore Audrey Smith got the shutout in goal for Cair Paravel, which improved to 10-5-0 on the season.
Next up for the Lions is Tuesday's quarterfinal contest against 4A-1A stalwart Bishop Miege at Bettis. The Stags earned their quarterfinal berth with a 1-0 win over Hayden.
“The whole process has been a real journey, to have this sort of an opportunity,'' Woolery said. "For years, we’ve wanted this sort of opportunity, and now it’s finally here.”
CLASS 4-1A REGIONAL SOCCER
Championship
CAIR PARAVEL LATIN 9, KANSAS CITY CHRISTIAN 0
KC Christian (6-8-0) 0 0 -- 0
Cair Paravel (10-5-0) 5 4 -- 9
Cair Paravel -- Goals: T. Childs 4, Keys 3, Barkley, Stapleton. Assists: Schwartz 3, Keys, Ewing, Barkley. Shutout: Smith.
