Submitted
The 2015 Hays Soccer Club boys traveled to Wichita for the 2025 Wichita Spring Invitational May 2-4.
Their first test of the tournament came against a familiar and former Stryker League foe VC Fusion 15B Green from Valley Center.
The first half started as a back and forth battle between both teams. Bryce Irwin was able to net the first goal for HSC. VC was able to also net a goal to go all square at 1-1. Hays would stat the scoring column two more times in the half, first on an assist from Noah Berges to Daniel Marcano and then later in the half Berges found the net on an assist from Irwin.
Coming out of the half, ball control and defense were key. An early goal by VC in the 2nd half pulled them within 2-3. Great goal keeping by Ryder Feldt (12 saves in the game), strong play from defenders Miles Mergen, James Summerall, and Reed Sulzman, and enough ball control halted any other scoring as the final score ended 3-2 in HSC’s favor.
The second and afternoon slate was against Wichita native club - Azteca Jr Academy 15B. HSC figured out quickly that this was going to be a much more physical and aggressive match. Finley Zimmerman started the scoring for Hays in the first half on a break away strike. Azteca then scored to knot things up at 1-1. Later off a goalie deflection, Cameron Feldt was able to send the ball back in to put HSC up 2-1.
Second half defensive effort from James Summerall, C. Feldt, Reed Sulzman, and Miles Mergen, and goals by Daniel Marcano and Ryder Feldt made the final score HSC - 4 / Azteca - 1. Ryder Feldt and Bryce Irwin split the halves as goalies and matched each other with 4 saves.
Just4Kix Lightning 15B, another former Stryker League opponent, was the early Sunday afternoon draw for HSC. Lincoln Hamel and Daniel Marcano put two goals in quickly to put HSC up early 2-0. Coming in at forward in the first half, Ryder Feldt netted his 2nd goal of the tournament on a long free kick. Later in the half on a nice pass from Alex Penka, Noah Berges sent a laser in to put HSC up 4-0. Right before the intermission, Hamel was able to net his second goal of the half for 5 first half goals for Hays.
It was a “family reunion” to start the second half as Cameron Feldt was able to find cousin Ryder Feldt on a cross for Ryder’s second goal of the game. A fly by the defender gave Marcano his second goal of the day. Later in the half, C. Feldt found Reed Sulzman for his second assist and Sulzman’s first goal. JFKL 15 was able to put 2 in goal late in the 2nd half to end it 8-2 advancing Hays into the championship game. Bryce Irwin and C. Feldt split the game as goalies with 8 and 2 saves each.
In their first Wichita tournament final, HSC met Pool B winner, Black Lightning Bandidos from Wichita. BLB came out quick and aggressive and HSC found themselves down 0-2 midway through the 1st half. Bryce Irwin was able to send a nice goal in to bring HSC closer at 1-2. Another BLB goal put HSC down at the half 1-3.
Starting the 2nd half, the HSC found their passing game and were able to net Irwin’s second goal of the game on an assist from Noah Berges. Off a corner kick a huge goal was put in by Finley Zimmerman to knot the match at 3-3. A late 2nd half goal by BLB put them up 4-3. HSC dug deep the final 4-5 minutes of the second half to put the pressure on in the BLB box. With 20-30 seconds left in the second half, HSC was awarded a corner kick and converted with Berges netting the pass from the Cameron Feldt kick with 3 seconds left to play.
As ties are not allowed in championships, penalty kicks to crown the winner ensued.
After neither team had an advantage after 5 players due to great goalkeeping by Ryder Feldt (5 saves in the game), a sudden death format would decide the champion. HSC’s first shot was just over the top crossbar and BLB was able to score, ending HSC’s tournament as finalist/runner-up.