By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden soccer continued its unbeaten 2026 run Tuesday, taking a 3-0 home Centennial League win over city rival Topeka High to improve to 10-0 overall and 3-0 in the league.
Hayden freshman Emma Slyter (16), being defended by Topeka High sophomore Jaqueline Perez (17), scored the Wildcats' first goal in Tuesday's 3-0 Centennial League home win over the Trojans. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Topeka High did a solid job defensively, turning away numerous Hayden scoring opportunities, but the Trojans (4-7-0, 0-3-0) were unable to muster much offense, with senior goalkeepers Lauren Borjon and Kadence Watts combining for the Wildcats' eighth shutout of the season.
"For the most part -- and I think you have to credit the seniors -- we're in the moment and we're trying to keep it one game at a time,'' Hayden coach Klaus Kreutzer said.
"I'm just really emphasizing not looking too far ahead and we've been pretty lucky so far.''
Senior Reese Huscher (left) scored Hayden's second goal in Tuesday's 3-0 Centennial League win over Topeka High. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Hayden freshman Emma Slyter scored the only goal the Wildcats would need just 7:43 into the match and senior Reese Huscher added a second goal less than four minutes later to give the hosts a 2-0 halftime advantage.
Topeka High stayed within two goals for nearly 23 minutes of the second half before Hayden sophomore Hailey Schmidtlein found the back of the net to account for the final margin.
"I think generally they're handling (the winning streak) OK,'' Kreutzer said. "I think today we were pretty sloppy, to be quite honest with you.
"We created lots of opportunities and had poor choices in front of the goal or in the attacking third, but I think we can be very good.''
Hayden will travel to Baldwin for a non-league game on Thursday while Topeka High will travel to Junction City for a Centennial League matchup.
HAYDEN 3, TOPEKA HIGH 0
Topeka High (4-7-0, 0-3-0) 0 0 -- 0
Hayden (10-0-0, 3-0-0) 2 1 -- 3
Hayden -- Goals: Emma Slyter, Reese Huscher, Hailey Schmidtlein. Shutout: Lauren Borjon, Kadence Watts.
