By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
No player or coach necessarily likes a tie and Hayden's soccer team found itself in that situation for the second straight game Tuesday at Hayden.
Shawnee Heights junior Camden Granado (6) had a three-goal hat trick in Tuesday's 4-4 soccer tie with Hayden. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Hayden senior Preston Meitner advances the ball in Tuesday's 4-4 double-overtime soccer deadlock with Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But after letting a 3-0 lead get away against visiting Shawnee Heights and needing a goal with 95 seconds left in regulation to avoid a loss, veteran Wildcat coach Klaus Kreutzer was't going to complain about Tuesday's 4-4 double-overtime non-league deadlock.
"I tell you, staring at that 4-3, I'll take a tie,'' Kreutzer said. "I feel pretty good about it.''
Shawnee Heights junior Jack Hall (2) races Hayden junior Uriel Cruz for the ball during Tuesday's 4-4 soccer tie at Hayden. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Hayden (4-6-4) played an 0-0 double OT game at Bonner Springs on Monday before the Wildcats ended their scoreless streak on a free kick from junior Uriel Cruz with 20:20 left in the first half against the T-Birds.
Less than four minutes later (16:25) Hayden doubled its advantage on a goal from junior Aiden Roberts and the Wildcats made it a 3-0 game at the 25:15 mark of the second half on a goal from junior Lane Neuman.
Shawnee Heights sophomore Brayan Diaz (24) and Hayden senior Trevor Christy (20) battle for a loose ball in Tuesday's 4-4 soccer tie at Hayden. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Shawnee Heights (6-5-1) turned the tables on the Wildcats at that point, however, with sophomore Brayan Diaz getting Heights on the board with 23:54 left in regulation before junior Camden Granado scored three straight goals in a nine-minute span, giving the T-Birds a 4-3 lead on a penalty kick with 2:54 left.
Hayden answered with a goal of its own at the 1:35 mark to force OT, with the ball finding the back of the net after a srum in front of the Heights goal and senior Preston Meitner credited with the goal for the Wildcats.
Neither team could find the net in the two 10-minute extra sessions, resulting in the 4-4 deadlock.
While disappointed in his team's early performance against Hayden, Shawnee Heights coach Nic Simons gave the T-Birds credit for getting back in the game.
"We gave them 40 minutes and we then showed up for 60 and it just wasn't enough,'' Simons said. "But I told the kids I was proud of them and it was a testament to how hard they worked for all 60 minutes of the second half and overtime and it shows when we are good we could be real good. When we don't show up, it's a whole another team.''
"I think to give (Shawnee Heights) credit, after having given up three goals I think they played their hearts out and they deserved it,'' Kreutzer said. "And I think we showed some heart. I told them I have a lot of respect for the effort they put forth. I wasn't crazy about all the decisions they made but the effort was there and (the T-Birds) are a good team.''
Sophomore Mason Haas was credited with three assists for Shawnee Heights while seniors Liam Annand and Evan George picked up assists for Hayden.
Shawnee Heights will be at Bettis Family Sports Complex to host Blue Valley Southwest on Thursday while Hayden will travel to Junction City for a Centennial League game next Tuesday.
HAYDEN 4, SHAWNEE HEIGHTS 4 (2 OT)
Shawnee Heights (6-5-1) 0 4 0 0 -- 4
Hayden (4-6-4) 2 2 0 0 -- 4
Shawnee Heights -- Goals: Camden Granado 3, Brayan Diaz. Assists: Mason Haas 3.
Hayden -- Goals: Uriel Cruz, Aiden Roberts, Lane Neuman, Preston Meitner. Assists: Liam Annand, Evan George.
