The Emporia High boys soccer team saw its season come to an end Thursday night, losing to Shawnee Heights, 2-0, at Hummer Sports Park in Topeka.
After battling to a scoreless tie for the majority of the game, the turning point came with about 13 minutes left when Emporia’s Carlos Antonio was awarded a penalty kick. Antonio took a shot aimed at the lower right corner, but Heights goalkeeper Derick Allen dived and corralled Antonio’s kick.
“We got the penalty kick and I thought, ‘This is it. We’ve got this wrapped up,’” EHS coach Steve Pearson said. “But their keeper made a great play, and that changed the whole momentum of the game.”
After making the save, Allen kicked the ball upfield before EHS could recover in time, and not long after, Heights’ Derek Hays scored on a direct kick to put Emporia in a 1-0 hole.
“The momentum just died,” Pearson said. “Whoever scored first was going to get it.”
The T-Birds’ Dustin Deisher scored again with about nine minutes to go — “That pretty much sealed the deal,” Pearson said — ending Emporia’s bid to make the State playoffs.
The Spartans ended their season with a 12-5 record, one victory short of making the State tournament.
EHS still was able to set many records and beat several schools for the first time.
“They were just kind of a golden team all around,” Pearson said. “I just hated to see the season stop before we made it to State.”
Shawnee Heights 2, Emporia 0
Thursday at Topeka
Second Half
SH — Derek Hays (unassisted), 68th minute
SH — Dustin Deisher (unassisted), 71st minute
Shots on goal — Emporia 4, Shawnee Heights 5. Saves — Emporia 3, Shawnee Heights 4. Corner kicks — Emporia 3, Shawnee Heights 7. Direct kicks — Emporia 16, Shawnee Heights 16. Throw-ins — Emporia 39, Shawnee Heights 16. Yellow Cards — Emporia 0, Shawnee Heights 1.
Record — Emporia 12-5.