Emporia High’s soccer team just earned itself a new signature victory.
The Spartans’ 4-1 win over Topeka West on Tuesday night at TRYSA, featuring deft passing and strong defense, showed what Emporia can do when at the top of its game. And the victory, the Spartans’ second straight, came over a team that was 7-2 coming in. It’s a win that’s more meaningful to Cornejo than the Spartans’ win over Wichita Heights, then ranked No. 9 in the state, at the Titan Classic earlier this year.
“That win, it was good for us, but it was too early in the season,” Cornejo said. “This win meant a lot for us, too, because they were undefeated in Centennial League, they beat some teams that we haven’t played... and we just had to have this one.”
Jared Schaefer had two goals and an assist for the Spartans (6-3), with both goals coming in the second half. His first score came off a rare goalkeeper’s assist. EHS goalie Cory Obermeyer made a diving save to his left on a shot by Jordan Blankenship, then got up and booted the ball downfield. Schaefer got to the ball and, with two defenders in his vicinity and the goalkeeper coming out to challenge, floated a shot over the charging goalie. It made it into the net on a bounce to give the Spartans a 3-0 advantage in the 43rd minute.
Just three minutes later, Saul Trujillo lofted a cross to the far post, and Schaefer connected with his head to get it into the net for his second score.
“It was a big game,” Schaefer said. “(Cornejo) stressed going into this that this was a tough team, and they were. But we came out.”
The 2-0 lead Emporia held at half came thanks to goals from Jesus Saldana and Erick Sandoval.
Saldana dribbled with his left foot across the top circle to the near post, then launched a left-footed boot that zipped past the West goalkeeper in the game’s 21st minute.
Seven minutes after that, Guzman led Schaefer with a cross to the far-post side, and Schaefer pushed it back toward the near post to an on-the-run Erick Sandoval, who tapped the shot home from close range.
For the complete story see the Gazette print edition or the online print edition at http://www.emporiagazette.com/pdf. To subscribe to the print edition or the online print edition go to http://www.emporiagazette.com/subscribe.
Comments
Post a comment
We allow registered users to post comments on this Web site. Our goal with this feature is to encourage thoughtful discussions about the news stories. Using the comment feature to make random attacks on people is not acceptable. Emporiagazette.com neither endorses nor guarantees the accuracy of any user contribution. Responsibility for what is posted or contributed to this site is the sole responsibility of each user. To learn more about our posting policies please read our User Poster Agreement Policy.
(Requires free registration.)