By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural’s outstanding 2022 soccer campaign came to a close with a 2-0 loss to the Blue Valley West Jaguars in Saturday's Class 6A state championship game.
The Junior Blues were riding a six-game win streak heading into Saturday and Rural’s consistency to get to the final four eight consecutive years gave it a lot of optimism heading into the match.
Washburn Rural's soccer seniors hoist the Class 6A runner-up trophy after Saturday's 2-0 loss to Blue Valley West in the state championship game. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
Washburn Rural poses for a team picture after finishing second in the Class 6A state soccer tournament. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
“I am just proud of our girls,” Washburn Rural coach Brian Hensyel said. “There’s 36 6A teams and for the last five years our team has been the second best team in the state of Kansas. The second best soccer program is a pretty good thing to say.
“Our girls are great. Yesterday we beat one of the best teams we’ve ever beaten in Olathe Northwest. It was tough for us to get the energy going today after yesterday.”
Unfortunately for Washburn Rural, they were met with defending state champions that had previously won the last four 6A state championships.
“Blue Valley West is the gold standard,” Hensyel said. “It’s not just us that can’t beat them, nobody can beat them. They have a phenomenal program who knows how to win. Blue Valley West doesn’t make any mistakes. A lot of teams make mistakes and you’re able to capitalize on them, but they just don’t make them.”
As deeply successful as Blue Valley West’s resume is, Washburn Rural wasn’t overmatched.
Washburn Rural (17-3-1) was able to clear the ball out with consistency when the Jaguars were hounding its territory. Brooklyn DeLeye, Hayden McWilliams, Addison Broxterman and the rest of the defenders made it difficult for the Jaguars to convert any shots.
Hailey Beck’s goalkeeping gave Washburn Rural insurance throughout the 80-minute affair and her defense between the pipes was top notch.
As good as the Junior Blues played, however, Blue Valley West would make a few key plays that would give the Jaguars a fifth state title.
Since 1993, no team outside of Johnson County has won the Class 6A girls soccer state championship. On Saturday at the Olathe-College Boulevard Activity Center, that streak would live on.
It didn’t take long for soccer powerhouse Blue Valley West to put a goal on the board. Audrey Kirk with a slick cross would set up Reiss Wood. Wood found herself in an open lane and would net it in with 34:56 left in the first half.
After Washburn Rural allowed its first goal, the backline would adjust to the Jaguars' blazing speed and pace of play.
The Junior Blues' defense couldn’t have been better for the remainder of the half after Wood’s kick. They would shut down a Jaguars offense that had scored five goals a night earlier against Manhattan.
Washburn Rural’s opportunities to score were sparse throughout the contest.
Rural freshman Delaney Hill had one of the few opportunities to score for the Junior Blues at the beginning of the second half. Hill found herself open with Jaguar goalkeeper Zinesh Holt. As Hill was rushing to the goal to make a kick, Holt would dive in front of a charging Hill and Holt would prevent the Junior Blues from scoring.
That prevented goal by Holt was crushing to Rural’s short-lived momentum.
Grace Bartlett would boot a ball from midfield with two Jaguars crashing in towards Rural’s goal territory. Alexis Morrison would attempt the goal, but it was deflected by the crossbar. Wood would gain possession of the ball and tap it in for her second goal of the afternoon with 23:58 left in the game.
That would be all Blue Valley West would need for its program to rack up another state title.
“This is a championship program,” Hensyel said. “League championships, regional championships, getting to the final four and getting to the state championship makes this a championship program. We are knocking on the door. We’ve got great soccer players in Topeka with more kids coming. We will win one someday.”
BLUE VALLEY WEST 2, WASHBURN RURAL 0
Blue Valley West (16-3-1) 1 1 – 2
Washburn Rural (17-3-1) 0 0 – 0
Blue Valley West – Goals: Wood 2. Assist: Kirk. Shutout: Holt.
