By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
A lot of things change, but some things don't.
The Centennial League has gone through major changes, dropping from 10 schools to nine a few years ago and to six schools this fall.
But one thing that hasn't changed is Washburn Rural's league dominance in boys soccer.
The Junior Blues ran their incredible league championship streak (shared or outright) to 28 straight years Tuesday night, with Rural rolling to a 5-1 victory over Topeka High at McElroy Field.
Washburn Rural senior Easton Bradstreet (13) battles Topeka High junior Chris Gomez (18) for the ball Tuesday night at McElroy Field. Bradstreet had two goals and an assist in Rural's 5-1 win. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Now 13-2-0 overall, Washburn Rural gave up an early Topeka High goal but dominated the rest of the game while capping a perfect 5-0 record in league play.
"The league has changed from 10 teams to nine teams to six teams, but you play who's on your schedule and this year the league had some good squads,'' Washburn Rural coach Brian Hensyel said. "Topeka High was tough and they got the early goal so we had to play well.
"Some of our better performances this year were in those league games, so that was a good thing.''
Topeka High (11-5-0, 2-3) drew first blood at the 33:26 mark of the first half on a shot from sophomore Jaime Alvarado off an assist from senior Thomas Schmidt, but Washburn Rural pulled even at 31:03 mark on senior Easton Bradstreet's goal off junior Devon Rutschmann's pass and Rutschmann put the Junior Blues ahead to stay with a goal at the 24:51 mark off Bradstreet's assist.
"We always talk about getting the early goal and they kind of took advantage -- a nice combination off passes and a good finish by them -- but what I liked is often times this year when we've given up a goal we haven't responded real well to that so what was nice was whatever momentum they could have got from 1-0 we took the lead back pretty quickly and kind of seized control, which was good.''
Bradstreet made the score 3-1 with 4:25 left in the opening half with his second goal of the night off junior Griffin Heinen's assist.
It was still 3-1 at the half but Washburn Rural added a pair of goals over the first eight minutes of the second half to put the Trojans away.
Rutschmann scored an unassisted goal just 28 seconds into the second half and Heinen scored off Rutschmann's second assist of the night with 32:05 remaining to end the scoring.
Washburn Rural will close out its regular season Thursday with a home non-league game against Blue Valley North while Topeka High completed its regular season on Tuesday night.
With Tuesday's win Rural clinched homefield advantage through the first three rounds of the Class 6A playoffs.
WASHBURN RURAL 5, TOPEKA HIGH 1
Topeka High (11-5-0, 2-3) 1 0 -- 5
Washburn Rural (13-2-0, 5-0) 3 2 -- 5
Topeka High -- Goals: Jaime Alvarado. Assist: Thomas Schmidt.
Washburn Rural -- Goals: Easton Bradstreet 2, Devon Rutschmann 2, Griffin Heinen. Assists: Devon Rutschmann 2, Easton Bradstreet, Griffin Heinen.
