Recap: Boys’ Soccer vs. Blue Valley Northwest

The Lancers’ season has run to an end, in a 4-1 loss to the Blue Valley Northwest Huskies in the final of their Regional on Thursday. After two straight years as Regional champs, the Lancers couldn’t quite take home any hardware tonight.

The first half of the match was even on both sides. While the Huskies led in possession, they couldn’t find a way through the East back four to the back of the net. The Lancers struggled to create any opportunities for themselves, but their back four didn’t allow many either.

But a foul given up right outside of the box proved deadly for the Lancers. Senior keeper Michael Moedritzer made a diving save, but the ball land at the feet of an attacking Husky who slammed the ball into the back of the net.

Neither team could get much going for themselves for most of the half. But with five minutes left, East began to pick up their play. The Lancers nearly had their equalizer when sophomore forward Grayson Rapp was able to get around the Husky keeper, but he couldn’t get enough power on his shot and it was saved at the goal line by a defender.

Minutes later, the buzzer blew and the Lancers went into the half down a goal.

They came back carrying that energy they left the first half with, and it didn’t take them long to capitalize off it. Senior midfielder Will Fenimore, connected off of a long free kick into the box, with a leaping Rapp, who slammed it through the keeper’s hands for the equalizing goal six minutes into the half.

East’s celebration didn’t last long though, with the Huskies capitalizing off a set piece of their own and going up 2-1.

The game held 2-1 until the last seven minutes, when the Lancers simply ran out of steam and were beaten on two break aways that led to two more goals. The Lancers ended their season on a 4-1 defeat, but were able to take Regionals Runner-Ups.

Man of the Match: Sophomore Forward Grayson Rapp

Even though he’s had a rough first year on Varsity, dealing with a bad concussion, he ended his first season on a definite high note. The sophomore played aggressively, pressing the defense, out dribbling the keeper and lunging above the defense to head home East’s lone goal on the night. Coach Jamie Kelly has got to be happy he’ll be returning for two more years.