By NICHOLAS GAINEY
Special to TopSports.news
After a sluggish start, the Washburn Rural Junior Blues boys soccer team exploded for six unanswered goals in a 6-1 win over Seaman on Thursday night at Seaman High School.
Brodye Kocher-Munoz (8) had two goals and an assist in Thursday's 6-1 Washburn Rural non-league soccer win over Seaman. [File photo/TSN]
The Junior Blues went on the attack from the opening kickoff, with Dylan Willingham just missing the mark on a shot attempt just seconds into the match.
Washburn Rural would get another opportunity a few minutes later, when a change in possession put the host Vikings in a poor defensive position. With Seaman goalkeeper Landon Geis caught several yards outside the six-yard box, the Junior Blues appeared to have an open net, but a Viking defender stopped a shot attempt to put an end to the threat.
Despite the Junior Blues having the momentum, the Vikings were able to move the ball down the field and take the lead in the 24th minute. A shot attempt from senior forward Blake Toyne was initially blocked, but the ball fell to the feet of Kaelon Taylor, whose chip shot went just over Washburn Rural goalkeeper Miles Cook and into the net to give the hosts a 1-0 advantage.
The Seaman lead would only last about eight minutes, when Washburn Rural’s Brodye Kocher-Munoz received a pass from Drew Moore and found the equalizer to put the Junior Blues back in the game.
Washburn Rural took the lead in the 35th minute, when Willingham’s corner kick bounced off the head of a Viking defender and into the net for an own goal, putting the Junior Blues up 2-1.
Washburn Rural would find its third goal in a span of five minutes courtesy of Draden Chooncharoen’s strike in the 37th minute, giving the Junior Blues a 3-1 lead heading into halftime.
In the second half, Washburn Rural showed off its abilities, taking control of the game with speed, physicality and accurate passing.
One such pass came in the 46th minute, when Willingham threaded a pass to an open Pierce Cannon in the Viking six-yard box, but Cannon’s shot attempt sailed just over the crossbar to keep the contest at 3-1.
Despite the missed opportunity, the offensive clinic continued for the Junior Blues. Sophomore Myles Didde added his name to the scoresheet in the 61st minute after a deflected shot gave the midfielder space to shoot in the box.
Washburn Rural then showed off its quick-strike ability, with Kocher-Munoz adding his second goal of the evening just a minute and a half later to put the Junior Blues up 5-1.
With the contest out of reach, several reserves made good use of their playing time for Washburn Rural. Freshman forward Everett Un put the finishing touches on the victory in the closing seconds, scoring a goal off a deflected cross to secure the 6-1 final score.
The Junior Blues took 24 shots in the match, with 12 of them being on target. Willingham led Washburn Rural with five shots, while Brandon Hamilton added four attempts.
Cook made one save in the victory for the Junior Blues.
Seaman recorded six total shots from six different players in the match. Freshman goalkeeper Geis made seven saves in net for the Vikings.
After the Vikings opened the scoring, Washburn Rural coach Brian Hensyel recognized that his team wasn’t playing the way the Junior Blues usually play.
“Falling down early wasn’t an ideal situation for us,” Hensyel said. “The things we’ve been working on, we didn’t do any of those things (in the first 25 minutes).”
Despite the early deficit, Hensyel was proud of his team for getting back to the way they’ve been playing and for putting in the effort to earn a convincing victory.
“The stuff that we’ve been talking about at practice, putting pressure on their defense, getting the ball and attacking the end line, and getting guys in the box to score goals, we finally started doing that,” Hensyel said. “Then the energy in the second half, that’s about as hard as we’ve played all year.”
With the regular season winding down and the Junior Blues on a four-game winning streak, Hensyel has high aspirations for his squad.
“Our goal is always to get to the semifinals,” Hensyel said. “Our best soccer is good enough to beat any team in (Class) 6A on a one day, one game scenario, which means we have a chance to win the whole thing.”
Washburn Rural will return to action next Tuesday to host Topeka High in a battle of undefeated Centennial teams.
The Junior Blues are looking to win their 30th consecutive league title with a victory over the Trojans.
Seaman will remain at home for its next contest, hosting Kansas City-Turner next Monday.
WASHBURN RURAL 6, SEAMAN 1
Washburn Rural (10-2-2) 3 3 – 6
Seaman (7-6-0) 1 0 – 1
Washburn Rural -- Goals: Kocher-Munoz 2, Chooncharoen, Didde, Un, own goal. Assists: Moore, Hamilton, Kocher-Munoz, Houser.
Seaman -- Goal: Taylor.
