Kansas high school boys soccer: Valley Center highlights regional championship winners

Taylor Eldridge
·2 min read

Injuries and inexperience plagued the Valley Center boys soccer team for the majority of this season.

The Hornets entered the postseason as the No. 14 seed in the Class 5A West bracket with a 6-9-1 record.

Spurred by the return of goal-scoring extraordinaire Tyler Manske, the Hornets are hitting their stride at the right time.

Valley Center pulled off its second straight upset on the road on Thursday, winning 3-1 at Hays to capture a 5A regional championship. The Hornets also knocked off No. 3 seed Andover Central on the road earlier in the week en route to just their second regional trophy in program history.

“We’re a young team and we’ve battled injuries all year long, so we’re finally healthy and playing with confidence now,” Valley Center coach Matt Coleman said. “Getting Tyler back is a true difference-maker for us. Having him as an option again takes off a lot of pressure on the rest of the guys and I think allows them to play more relaxed and more composed.”

Despite playing in just half of the games, Manske has already netted 16 goals in his junior season.

He didn’t score on Thursday, but his presence tilted the defense and provided opportunities for his teammates. Junior centerback Cristian Aguilar, a team captain, stepped up and netted a brace from a set piece and a penalty kick, while sophomore Sebastian Chavez helped Valley Center control the middle of the field.

“Our boys came out and were locked in and focused that first half,” Coleman said. “I thought we completely controlled the first half and we were creating a lot of scoring opportunities. We’re going to have to keep that up.”

Valley Center will face its third straight road game as an underdog in next Tuesday’s quarterfinals, as the Hornets will face defending state champion Maize South in an AV-CTL Division II rematch.

Kansas high school boys soccer regional game scores

Class 6A

Dodge City 6, Wichita Southeast 0

Washburn Rural 4, Lawrence Free State 1

Liberal 2, Derby 0

Garden City 3, Wichita North 2

Class 5A

Maize South 5, Kapaun Mt. Carmel 2

Newton 4, Emporia 3 (3-2 PK’s)

Valley Center 3, Hays 1

Salina South 2, Bishop Carroll 1 (4 OT)

Class 4-1A

McPherson 2, Augusta 0

Buhler 1, Wichita Classical 0

Rose Hill 6, Coffeyville 0

Trinity Academy 7, Independence 1

KSHSAA boys soccer quarterfinal schedule

Note: Games will be played at host site on Tuesday, Oct. 31.

Class 6A

Liberal (11-4-3) at Dodge City (17-1)

Garden City (12-4-2) at Washburn Rural (17-1)

Class 5A

Valley Center (8-9-1) at Maize South (17-1)

Salina South (13-5) at Newton (16-2)

Class 4-1A

McPherson (9-8-1) at Buhler (15-3)

Trinity Academy (12-5-1) at Rose Hill (13-4-1)