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PITTSBURG —
Pittsburg finished its regular season Thursday night with a 4-2 win over traditional Southeast Kansas League power Independence.
Late in the first half, Pittsburg broke a 1-all tie with a header by freshman Sullivan Lauderdale off a pass from fellow freshman Jose Ayala.
Pittsburg went ahead 3-1 on a goal by sophomore Diego Luna, assist by freshman Lukas McConnell.
After the Purple Dragons missed several chances for additional goals, Independence made it 3-2 on a goal by sophomore Logan Johnson. Only 45 seconds later, Ayala kicked in the final goal of the match.
“We took over tonight, Mr. Garzone (assistant principal Chris Garzone) and I,” Pittsburg activities director Doug Hitchcock said. “I’ll try and do the best I can to talk about our kids. They were excited to play tonight. They’re always excited to play Independence. Independence has always brought a good challenge and they did that tonight.
“We had a lot of good teamwork, kids passed the ball and communicated well, and that’s the things you like to see at this time of the year going into regionals. We may know a little bit (Friday) but definitely by 10 a.m. Saturday whether or not we’re on the road or we get an opportunity to host. We feel like we have a chance (to host) at least.”
Pittsburg swept Independence this season, winning 5-3 on Independence soil for the first time in the history of the Pittsburg soccer program. During that late September win, junior Danilo Pinheiro scored two goals and sophomore Emmanuel Gonzales, Ayala and McConnell each scored a goal apiece.
The Purple Dragons finish their regular season with a 9-6 record.
“The kids are coming together right now, playing hard, supporting each other and I think for the most part we’re injury-free,” Hitchcock said. “That’s always important at this time of the year. We’ve got to keep challenging ourselves at practice and push through.”
The JV defeated Independence 5-0, as sophomore forward Robert Bustamante netted four goals. Freshman and senior goalkeepers Lauderdale (freshman) and Kaleb Konek (senior) blanked the Bulldogs.
According to the Kansas State High School Activities Association, Olathe East hosts a Class 5A regional seeding meeting 9:30 a.m. Saturday — Bishop Miege, Blue Valley Southwest, Emporia, KC Harmon, KC Schlagle, KC Turner, KC Washington, Lansing, Leavenworth, Mill Valley, Pittsburg, St. James Academy, St. Thomas Aquinas, Shawnee Heights, Shawnee Mission South, Topeka Seaman and Topeka West.
With 17 teams overall in the Northeast, No. 16 and No. 17 will play each other for the right to play the No. 1 seed in Regional 1. The rest of the matchups will be 2-15 (Regional 2), 3-14 (Regional 3), 4-13 (Regional 4), 5-12 (Regional 4), 6-11 (Regional 3), 7-10 (Regional 2) and 8-9 (Regional 1). Four teams will make it to state.
Better-seeded teams host in the first round. First round matches are played Monday or Tuesday next week and regional final matches are played next Thursday. The state championship and consolation matches will be Saturday, Nov. 3 — 33 teams are vying for the 5A prize.
Pittsburg finished its regular season Thursday night with a 4-2 win over traditional Southeast Kansas League power Independence.
Late in the first half, Pittsburg broke a 1-all tie with a header by freshman Sullivan Lauderdale off a pass from fellow freshman Jose Ayala.
Pittsburg went ahead 3-1 on a goal by sophomore Diego Luna, assist by freshman Lukas McConnell.
After the Purple Dragons missed several chances for additional goals, Independence made it 3-2 on a goal by sophomore Logan Johnson. Only 45 seconds later, Ayala kicked in the final goal of the match.
“We took over tonight, Mr. Garzone (assistant principal Chris Garzone) and I,” Pittsburg activities director Doug Hitchcock said. “I’ll try and do the best I can to talk about our kids. They were excited to play tonight. They’re always excited to play Independence. Independence has always brought a good challenge and they did that tonight.
“We had a lot of good teamwork, kids passed the ball and communicated well, and that’s the things you like to see at this time of the year going into regionals. We may know a little bit (Friday) but definitely by 10 a.m. Saturday whether or not we’re on the road or we get an opportunity to host. We feel like we have a chance (to host) at least.”
Pittsburg swept Independence this season, winning 5-3 on Independence soil for the first time in the history of the Pittsburg soccer program. During that late September win, junior Danilo Pinheiro scored two goals and sophomore Emmanuel Gonzales, Ayala and McConnell each scored a goal apiece.
The Purple Dragons finish their regular season with a 9-6 record.
“The kids are coming together right now, playing hard, supporting each other and I think for the most part we’re injury-free,” Hitchcock said. “That’s always important at this time of the year. We’ve got to keep challenging ourselves at practice and push through.”
The JV defeated Independence 5-0, as sophomore forward Robert Bustamante netted four goals. Freshman and senior goalkeepers Lauderdale (freshman) and Kaleb Konek (senior) blanked the Bulldogs.
According to the Kansas State High School Activities Association, Olathe East hosts a Class 5A regional seeding meeting 9:30 a.m. Saturday — Bishop Miege, Blue Valley Southwest, Emporia, KC Harmon, KC Schlagle, KC Turner, KC Washington, Lansing, Leavenworth, Mill Valley, Pittsburg, St. James Academy, St. Thomas Aquinas, Shawnee Heights, Shawnee Mission South, Topeka Seaman and Topeka West.
With 17 teams overall in the Northeast, No. 16 and No. 17 will play each other for the right to play the No. 1 seed in Regional 1. The rest of the matchups will be 2-15 (Regional 2), 3-14 (Regional 3), 4-13 (Regional 4), 5-12 (Regional 4), 6-11 (Regional 3), 7-10 (Regional 2) and 8-9 (Regional 1). Four teams will make it to state.
Better-seeded teams host in the first round. First round matches are played Monday or Tuesday next week and regional final matches are played next Thursday. The state championship and consolation matches will be Saturday, Nov. 3 — 33 teams are vying for the 5A prize.
