By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden entered Monday's Class 4A-1A state soccer quarterfinal against Wichita Trinity Academy as the clearcut favorite and left no doubt, scoring three goals in the opening 19 minutes on the way to a 4-0 shutout win over the Knights.
Freshman Emma Slyter scored a pair of goals in Hayden's 4-0 win over Wichita Trinity in Monday's Class 4A-1A state quarterfinal. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"That's what we talked about is getting a goal or two early and putting them on their back foot, and it worked well,'' Hayden coach Klaus Kreutzer said. "I think we're focused and focus at practice and I think they're ready to take on whatever challenge is ahead of them.
"I think they work hard and if you work hard then good things happen.''
The Wildcats improved to 19-0 while advancing to Wednesday's 4 p.m. semifinal to host nine-time defending state champion Bishop Miege (11-8-0), a 5-1 quarterfinal winner over Bishop Seabury.
The Stags took a 2-1 double overtime win over Hayden in the 2025 state championship game while Hayden shut out Miege 5-0 on the road early in the regular season.
Hayden senior Grace Funk scored the Wildcats' first goal in Monday's 4-0 Class 4A-1A quarterfinal win over Wichita Trinity. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Hayden, which beat Wichita Trinity 3-1 earlier in the season, scored the only goal it would need in Monday's rematch just 8 minutes 40 seconds into the game when senior Grace Funk found the back of the net.
Junior Avery Becker (3) scored a goal Monday to help Hayden improve to 19-0 with a 4-0 Class 4A-1A state quarterfinal win over Wichita Trinity. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Freshman Emma Slyter made it a 2-0 game just 3:40 later and junior Avery Becker gave the Wildcats a commanding 3-0 halftime advantage with a goal at the 21:11 mark.
Slyter scored her second goal of the day to end the scoring with 12:17 remaining, with Monday's two goals continuing her outstanding freshman season after her family moved to Topeka from Arizona last summer.
"It's definitely different because Arizona's so much bigger than the town I live in now, but out of all the schools I could have gone to this is the best school for me,'' Slyter said. "All of the girls are so welcoming and the team just always wants what's best for all the girls and no one's selfish and are all just good teammates.
"The coaching is awesome and it's a good fit for me. It's really good teamwork and the practices are perfect.''
Seniors Carsyn Broxterman, Reese Huscher and Ella Foster were credited with assists for the Wildcats while seniors Kadence Watts and Lauren Borjon combined for the shutout in goal, with Borjon coming up with a big-time save in the second half on Trinity's best scoring threat of the game.
Wichita Trinity finished its season 7-8-3.
HAYDEN 4, WICHITA TRINITY 0
Wichita Trinity (7-8-3) 0 0 -- 0
Hayden (19-0-0) 3 1 -- 4
Hayden -- Goals: Emma Slyter 2, Grace Funk, Avery Becker. Assists: Carsyn Broxterman, Reese Huscher, Ella Foster. Shutout: Kadence Watts, Lauren Borjon.
