By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural soccer avenged its only loss of the season Wednesday night, going on the road to top Blue Valley West 2-1 and earn its first berth in the Class 6A state championship game since 2021.
Senior Draden Chooncharoen (left) scored the game's first goal in Washburn Rural's 2-1 Class 6A semifinal road win over Blue Valley West Wednesday night. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Brady Loeffler scored the game-winning goal in Wednesday's 2-1 Class 6A semifinal road win over Blue Valley West. [File photo/TSN]
The 18-1-1 Junior Blues will face defending champion Shawnee Mission East (16-3-1) at 5 p.m. Saturday in the title game at Wichita's Stryker Complex.
"One of the best road victories in program history,'' Rural coach Brian Hensyel said. "Defense was awesome tonight.''
The Junior Blues, who dropped a 3-2 home double-overtime decision to the Jaguars in Rural's third game of the season, never trailed Wednesday after senior Draden Chooncharoen scored in the first half on a header off a corner kick from senior Brandon Hamilton.
Blue Valley West (17-3-0) evened the score at 1-1 midway through the second half, but it took Washburn Rural all of about 30 seconds to answer with the game-winner, with senior Brady Loeffler scoring off a header.
"Great team victory for a group that just finds ways to win,'' Hensyel said. "Twelve seniors and all their experience paid off. Looking forward to the title game Saturday.''
Shawnee Mission East (16-3-1) advanced to the championship game with a 5-3 semifinal victory over Wichita Southeast (18-2-0).
Washburn Rural, making its sixth straight 6A final four appearance, dropped a 3-0 semifinal decision to the Lancers last season before the Junior Blues bounced back to finish third with a 3-1 win over Shawnee Mission West. SM East won the 2024 title with a 1-0 win over Dodge City.
