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TOPEKA – Hays High soccer snapped a three-game losing streak to a familiar foe from eastern Kansas Thursday to keep its magical season alive.
Led by a hat trick from senior forward Ivan Maldonado and some standout defensive play, the Indians beat Topeka West 3-1 in a Class 5A regional championship game.
The win – the seventh straight for the Indians (13-3-2) – propelled them into next week’s 5A state quarterfinals. Those official pairings have not yet been released by the state activities association (KSHSAA), but it appears Hays High will be on the road at Maize South (17-1) early next week.
Thursday’s win for HHS was one of sweet revenge over the Chargers, who had beaten Hays High 5-1 in the championship game of the Salina South Invitational early in the season. The Chargers also had beaten the Indians twice last year.
Topeka West looked in position to take control again early in Thursday’s match, when it scored within the first two minutes of the game.
But the Indian defense dug deep and managed to get to halftime trailing just 1-0. Their defense also held strong in the second half, which turned into a slugfest, with the Chargers picking up four yellow cards in the match.
Meanwhile, Maldonado sprung loose for three goals, giving him 29 for the season and erasing the old single-season Hays High mark of 26 set in 2018. It was the sixth hat trick of the season for Maldonado, who also moved within one goal of tying the school career record of 57.
Thursday’s defensive effort featured senior goalkeeper Cedric Durr collecting nine saves, boosting his season total to 100.
While those two seniors keep piling up individual numbers, they would be quick to tell you that their final prep season has been a complete team effort.
Hays High’s 13 victories is the most for an Indian squad since the 2012 season, when it finished 12-4 and one away from the school record of 14 in 2002 when they finished state runner up.
The Indians have improved consistently all season.
After back-to-back 5-1 losses to Topeka West and Class 6A perennial power Dodge City in September, their only loss over the next 11 games was a 1-0 overtime thriller at Dodge City on October 6. During that time span, the Indians have outscored their opponents 34-7 with six shutouts.
Dodge (16-1) advanced to the state quarterfinals in Class 6A with a 5-1 regional championship victory over Topeka-Washburn Rural Thursday. Coincidentally, Dodge’s only loss this season was to Wichita East, a team Hays High beat 2-0 early in the season.