By NICHOLAS GAINEY
Special to TopSports.news
The Topeka High boys soccer team earned its seventh win in a row with a 3-0 Centennial League victory over visiting Emporia on Thursday night at Hummer Sports Park.
Topeka High senior Ian Martinez scored his 12th and 13th goals and also had an assist in Thursday's 3-0 Centennial League win over Emporia. [File photo/TSN]
The Trojans controlled possession for most of the first 10 minutes, but nearly fell behind when the Spartans made a run down the left wing. A cross into the box led to a close-range shot attempt, but the offside flag went up to put an end to the threat.
Topeka would get on the board in the 17th minute, when senior Antonio Aguirre found the back of the Spartan net off a corner kick from classmate Ian Martinez.
The Trojans would keep up the offensive pressure, with Martinez scoring his team-leading 12th goal of the season in the 29th minute, giving Topeka a 2-0 advantage at halftime.
The Trojans would continue to get most of the ball to begin the second half, and earned an opportunity to extend their lead when Martinez was taken down on the left side of the box for a penalty kick in the 59th minute.
Martinez converted the attempt for his second goal of the match and 13th of the season, giving Topeka a 3-0 lead that it would not relinquish.
After playing defense for most of the match, Emporia began to keep possession for longer periods, resulting in a higher output of shots for the Spartans. After being held without a shot on goal until the 72nd minute, an Emporia player was fouled in the box, giving the Spartans an opportunity to close the Trojan lead.
Kevin Magana stepped up to take the penalty kick, but Topeka goalkeeper Billy Lutz, who had not been tested until that point, blocked the shot on the right side of the goal. Emporia’s Ricardo Ramos came in to tap in the rebound, but Lutz made another save to secure the clean sheet.
The Trojans dominated on offense, taking 25 shots in the contest, with 12 coming on goal.
Senior forward Jaime Alvarado led the attack, taking eight shots, with three being on target.
Lutz finished the evening making three saves in net, all of them coming in the second half. Emporia took seven shots as a team, with three on target.
Seven different players recorded shots for the Spartans. Andrew Ruxton made nine saves in net for Emporia.
After winning their seventh game in a row and outscoring their opponents 18-0 in their last three games, Topeka coach Derek Snook has high aspirations for his team.
“As long as we play the way we’ve been playing and the way we know how to play, the sky’s the limit,” Snook said. “We’ve come together, bringing in some new players, and also just changing things around a little bit, as far as where people are playing.”
After allowing five goals in a season-opening loss to Lawrence, the Trojan defense has kept opponents off the scoresheet in their last three contests.
“In (the Lawrence game) I was starting two freshmen and a sophomore along with a senior in the back line.” Snook said. “So we’re young. We were young in the back line and we didn’t have the connection that we have grown into.”
The Trojans will be back in action on Monday, Sep. 30 with a road contest against Lansing. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
TOPEKA 3, EMPORIA 0
Topeka (7-1-0) 2 1 -- 3
Emporia (3-4-0) 0 0–0
Topeka -- Goals: Martinez 2, Aguirre. Assist: Martinez.
