By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Before Topeka High's non-league 3-2 overtime soccer loss to Free State the Trojans were already without four players with being absent or injured and by the time they left Hummer Sports Park on Friday night, three more players got significantly banged up.
Despite playing with a true 11 players, Topeka High (5-4-0) fell just short of overcoming all of its obstacles against a Free State squad hungry to snap its own nine-game losing streak and winless season.
Topeka High freshman Natalie Barnes (right) scored a goal for the Trojans in Friday's 3-2 overtime soccer loss to Free State. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
Despite being shorthanded, Topeka High's soccer team took Free State to overtime in a 3-2 loss at Hummer Sports Park. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
But even with the apparent dark cloud hanging above the Trojans' heads, they never gave up. Although disappointed in the loss, Topeka High coach Derek Snook was pleased with what he saw from players that aren't regularly on the varsity field.
"First and foremost, I was proud of the effort," Snook said. "We came into the game being down three or four more players already due to injury or being gone. We had an injury to one of our tweeners in the junior varsity game that gets time. We had another injury in the first half with a possible concussion, so I'm down to playing junior varsity players that don't play that often.
"But the effort was fantastic. Quite honestly, I thought we had some golden opportunities to put the ball in the back of the net. We missed a pass here and didn't make a good run on one there, but the effort was there. I thought we did some good things defensively as well. We had our opportunities, but it just didn't work out."
After 13:40 of scoreless play in the first half, Free State took a 1-0 lead on a goal by freshman Sophia Christie that junior midfielder Regan Knapp assisted.
Topeka High was fortunate to tie the game up right before the first half ended due to a slick crosser from junior Avery Zimmerman that was tipped by Free State's goal. The Firebirds' own goal gave the Trojans a sigh of relief before the break.
Free State broke the 1-1 tie with a goal 10:56 into the second half. Junior Kate Foust set up sophomore Taylor Woods perfectly for a strike that gave the Firebirds a 2-1 advantage.
Topeka High struggled to get the ball out of its territory. Still, luckily for the Trojans, the backline provided some solid defense in front of the pipes to keep the Firebirds away from inflicting more damage.
With Topeka High's defense playing superbly down the second-half stretch, the Trojans desperately needed an alley to get a shot against Free State.
Freshman Natalie Barnes had a tiny window of opportunity but capitalized with a strike in the back of the net to give Topeka High momentum and the 2-2 tie with 18:36 left in the second half.
Neither team could score a goal before the second half came to a close which meant Free State and Topeka High were going to overtime.
Topeka High had few chances to attack Free State's backline, which backfired on the Trojans in overtime.
With 2:22 left in overtime, junior Elaina Zung placed a perfect pass to senior Maddie Powell. Despite a crowded box, Powell found a way to kick the ball into the back of the net for the game-winning goal.
Free State would get its first win of the season, while Topeka High lost its second straight contest.
"We have to take care of ourselves away from the field," Snook said. "If we can come out with the same energy and keep playing for one another, we will be fine. But there are some things we need to work on going forward."
On Monday night, Topeka High will host Hayden (4-3-1) at Hummer Sports Park.
FREE STATE 3, TOPEKA HIGH 2.
Free State (1-9) – 1 1 1 – 3
Topeka High (5-4) – 1 1 0 – 2
Goals – Free State: Christie, Woods, Powell. Topeka High: Barnes. Assists – Free State: Knapp, Foust, Zung.
