- Details
By VINCE LOVERGINE
TopSports.news
A United Kansas Conference soccer tilt on Monday night between Shawnee Heights and Topeka West featured both teams coming into the match with one combined loss.
While it’s still early in the year, this game could hold title implications later down the road and Shawnee Heights knew that coming in.
The T-Birds then went out and took advantage of the opportunity, riding a three-goal hat trick from senior Camden Granado to a 4-1 win over the Chargers at Hummer Sports Park.
Senior Camden Granado (left) had a three-goal hat trick to lead Shawnee Heights to a 4-1 road win over Topeka West Monday night. [File photo/TSN]
“Our guys have been thinking and working all season toward not just tonight but just the idea of league championship wins and give it up to Topeka West, what an effort playing down a couple of guys, they’re a great team,” Shawnee Heights head coach Nic Simons said. “We are embracing this idea that we’re never satisfied ... we are going to continue to have this championship mentality and I think our guys showed that, keeping their composure tonight and kept the pressure on and I think that’s what’s a great hallmark out of this group.
"They have learned their lessons early. We’ve scheduled (Washburn) Rural, (Lawrence) Free State, all of these good teams early so that we can be ready for a big stage like tonight.”
Granado said Monday was a statement win for the T-Birds.
“We had this match circled on our calendars for a long time and a couple of other matches before this. After we get past those first couple of matches, it’s all focused on this and coming out of this game with a win, knowing this game could determine the league,” Granado said.
The Chargers were issued two red cards in the game which made it 11 vs. 9.
Simons said when that happens, it changes the momentum and gameplan.
“It was super hard,” Simons said. “We talked to our guys before the game that this in many ways was like a playoff game… the first 25 to 30 minutes or so, it played out just like a postseason game. I think both teams were kind of playing like not to make a mistake rather than exploit opportunities.
"It was a shame that some stuff outside of our control changed the dynamic of the game. I don’t want anything to take away from what otherwise would’ve been an incredible game, come down to a photo type finish at the end. I got to give our guys a lot of credit because they held their composure in obviously a tough situation and I think for that, they earned the victory.”
The Chargers had allowed just four goals on the season but gave up three in the first half alone to the Thunderbirds.
Shawnee Heights moved to 6-1 on the campaign and are winners of six in a row.
After a free kick that hit a Chargers hand in the box, a penalty kick followed from Granado scoring the game's first goal with 19:36 left in the first half.
Almost five minutes after that, the T-Birds had a great presence, attacking in Topeka West territory and Nick Prater booted one in the back of the net, making it 2-nil.
Granado would strike again off his right foot into the left side of the goal off another penalty kick with 8:29 left in the first half.
Topeka West junior Diego Gonzalez-Talavera put the Chargers on the board with a penalty kick of his own with 34 minutes left in the match.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman girls golf is the three-time defending United Kansas Conference champion and has produced multiple Class 5A state medalists over the years, but entering Monday's City Championships at Western Hills the Vikings had never won a city team title in the 13-year history of the event.
Julie McLaughlin's Vikings made up for lost time on Monday as senior individual champion Elise Eckert powered Seaman to a 14-stroke victory over Hayden (341-355) while 11-time city champ Washburn Rural finished third (361).
Seaman girls golf poses for a team picture Monday at Western Hills after winning its first-ever city team championship. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"This is pretty special, this is something,'' McLaughlin said of the city title. "I had hoped last year we would make a run for it and we just came out and didn't play very well.
"We've come in second a few times and that was exciting, that was great, but this is something I've wanted to see them do for a long time now.''
Seaman senior Elise Eckert shot a two-under-par 68 to win the city girls golf title by eight strokes Monday at Western Hills. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Eckert, a three-time 5A state medalist at Emporia before transferring to Seaman this fall, shot a sizzling two-under-par 68 to take the city individual title by an eight-stroke margin over Hayden senior Lauren Borjon.
"I felt pretty comfortable all day,'' Eckert said. "I started off my round with a double (bogey), so it was kind of rough, but I feel like I was able to quickly pick it up and get myself back in competition.''
Eckert said McLaughlin pointed out to the Vikngs that Seaman had never won the city meet, which made Monday's title run special.
"My coach went over that in the van before we came here,'' Eckert said. "It feels great to help them out with that. I like that I am able to be a part of this team, and with some good girls, too.''
Eckert said she was able to fit in quickly with her new team this fall.
"It didn't really take long because I knew most of the girls beforehand,'' Eckert said. "I had played with them before and they just really accepted me and it was amazing.''
Makenna Stuke finished fifth with an 89 to help Seaman win its first city team title Monday at Western Hills. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The Vikings also got top-10 finishes from Makenna Stuke, fifth with an 89, Chloe Schmidtlein, seventh with a 91, and Kaitlynn Frye, who tied for eighth with a 93.
Hayden senior Lauren Borjon shot a 76 Monday to finish second in the city tournament at Western Hills. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Hayden senior Izzy Glotzbach shot an 82 Monday to finish third in the city tournament at Western Hills. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Borjon's 76 was good enough for her second career runnerup finish in the city meet while her Hayden senior teammate, Izzy Glotzbach, finished third with an 82. Borjon also finished second in 2023, leading the Wildcats to the city team championship.
Senior Lauren Cox finished fourth with an 85 to lead Washburn Rural in Monday's city tournament at Western Hills. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Third-place Washburn Rural was led by senior Lauren Cox, who placed fourth with an 85, while Kailyn Petersen was sixth with a 90 and Briley Miles and Ella Taggart tied for eighth with 93s.
Seaman also won the championship in the Topeka West Invitational, held in conjunction with the city tournament, by a five-stroke margin over Baldwin.
Seaman, Shawnee Heights and Topeka West will compete in next Monday's UKC meet at Shawnee Country Club while Hayden and Washburn Rural will compete in next Monday's Centennial League tournament at Junction City.
TOPEKA CITY GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Austin Broadie, Washburn University
AUSTIN BROADIE, Washburn University
A 6-foot senior outside hitter, Broadie helped lead No. 9-ranked Washburn volleyball to a perfect 3-0 record in the Central Missouri tournament on Friday and Saturday in Warrensburg, Mo. as the Ichabods improved to 11-0 on the season. Broadie registered a career-high 25 kills in Washburn's final match of the weekend, a five-set thriller over Ouachita Baptist.
Dayne Johnson
DAYNE JOHNSON, Silver Lake
Johnson, a senior standout on both sides of the ball for the Silver Lake football team, helped lead the way Friday night as the Eagles picked up their first win of the season, a 19-6 home Big East League decision over Perry-Lecompton. A multi-sport standout, Johnson caught 17 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown from freshman quarterback Kipton Kruger against the Kaws.
Cale Ketter
CALE KETTER, Seaman
Ketter, a 6-foot-1, 170-pound junior quarterback, completed 12 of 15 passes for 278 yards and five touchdowns Friday night as Seaman picked up its first win of the season, a 61-0 United Kansas Conference romp past Topeka West at Hummer Sports Park. Ketter hit Josh Brown for 18 and 32-yard touchdown, Noah Kobuszewski for a 78-yard score, Jayden Evans for a 39-yard strike and Coy Barta for a 27-yard TD.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The first goal of senior Shaye Taylor's collegiate career was just enough for Washburn University soccer to post its second straight shutout victory with a 1-0 non-conference win over Ouachita Baptist Sunday at Yager Stadium.
Taylor, a 5-foot-7 defender, scored the game's lone goal with just 3:55 left in the opening half, ripping home a free kick that was estimated to be at least 35 yards out.
Washburn defender Shaye Taylor receives a hug from teammate Rilyn Snyder (25) after scoring the lone goal in Sunday's 1-0 win over Ouachita Baptist. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn's soccer team mobs senior defender Shaye Taylor after she scored the lone goal in Sunday's 1-0 win over Ouachita Baptist. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"Obviously I took a lot of free kicks today and on that one my goal was to shoot it, my goal was to score,'' said Taylor, who began her career at Minot State before transferring to Washburn last season. "I thought the goalie had it and then it slipped through her fingers, so honestly I was a little surprised.
"It would have been a great save on her part, but I was really excited it went in.''
Washburn coach Davy Phillips said the Ichabods' goal on free kicks is always to give themselves a chance to score.
"The most important thing is to put the ball in dangerous areas,'' Phillips said. "And then if you have bodies crashing in dangerous areas own goals happen, goalkeeper mistakes, goals, all of those things.
"So it's about putting the ball in dangerous areas and then hopefully getting dangerous runs to complement the service.''
Phillips, whose Ichabods improved to 3-2-1 and are above .500 for the first time this season, said the team still needs to continue showing improvement, but he was obviously happy to get Sunday's win and a weekend sweep.
"I wasn't overly impressed with our performance today,'' he said. "For me it's about stringing performances together versus results and we I thought missed a chance to string performances together.
"But I told the team I'm proud of them -- two wins, two shutouts -- and those are things we can take a lot of pride in and gain some confidence in and grow it as we get into conference now. Those are important things for us to accomplish this weekend, but I thought ultimately we missed the final goal a little bit.''
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University football came up just short on the road Saturday night, falling 34-28 at No. 15-ranked Central Oklahoma.
Quarterback Keller Hurla had a hand in three Washburn TDs in Saturday's 34-28 road loss at Central Oklahoma. [File photo/TSN]
Junior Chase Allen-Jackman had 118 receiving yards and a pair of TDs in Saturday's 34-28 road loss at Central Oklahoma. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn wasted no time getting on the board after sophomore linebacker JC Heim picked off an early Central Oklahoma pass, with Justin Lewis capping the short-field opportunity with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Chase Allen-Jackman for a quick 7-0 lead.
The Bronchos responded with a pair of scores to move in front, but the Ichabods tied the game late in the opening quarter when sophomore quarterback Keller Hurla, seeing his first action of the season, powered in from a yard out to finish a 75-yard drive and tie the score at 14-all.
UCO scored 10 straight points to take a 24-14 halftime advantage, but the back and forth contest continued in the third quarter.
Hurla once again punched it in from the 1-yard line and moments later he struck through the air, lining up under center and connecting with Allen-Jackman for an 85-yard touchdown strike.
That big play gave the Ichabods a 28-24 lead with 7:48 to play in the third quarter, but UCO came back with a touchdown drive of its own, regaining the lead 31-28 heading into the final frame.
UCO pushed the lead to six at 34-28 on the first possession of the quarter with a 51-yard field goal wrapping up the scoring in the game.
Allen-Jackman turned in a career night, finishing with five receptions for 118 yards and both of Washburn's passing touchdowns.
Hurla added two rushing scores to go with his long touchdown pass, while Cam Robinson chipped in 32 rushing yards on nine carries.
