Story by CAYDEN SANDERS
Tiger Media Network
File Photo
Opening up the Homecoming festivities for Hays High, the Indians’ boys soccer team welcomed rival Great Bend for a conference matchup on Tuesday. The Indians controlled the match from the start, winning 8-1.
“I’m proud of the way my boys played. Putting the ball in the back of the net is never easy,” HHS Head Coach Daniel Kelly said. “We’ve got to get guys in there that aren’t usually on the field at the same time to get experience together. It’s really good for the future, as guys got experience in different positions.”
Less than three minutes into the match, junior forward Ivan Maldonado scored off a penalty kick, opening up the Indians’ offense. Maldonado scored three times in the match, including goals in the 11th, and 49th minutes along with his opener.
Maldonado has the goal of being the best scorer in Hays High history. The program record is 28 goals in a season and 56 in a career. Maldonado currently has ten this season and 15 for his career.
“That’s been my number one goal since I’ve joined the high school team. Since I was a freshman, I’ve been trying to beat the scoring record,” he said. “That’s just been my number one goal. I’m off to a great start right now, just hoping I can get more as the season goes along.”
In the 16th and 17th minutes, senior forward Kal Lonsdale and dunior defender Brecken Otte scored, helping the Indians carry a 4-0 score into halftime.
To open the second half, Lonsdale found the back of the net again in the 55th minute.
Great Bend scored in the 57th minute.
To finish the last seven minutes, junior midfielder Ethan Branaman scored in the 73rd and 77th minutes to get to the final score of 8-1.
“It was a good opportunity for us just to play them well. With them being our rivals, homecoming as well, we wanted to come out and look good after (the) defeat against Dodge City,” Maldonado said. “We worked really hard to prepare for Great Bend this time.”
During the match, Great Bend committed fouls that contributed to yellow cards that eventually turned to red cards. At the end of the match, the Panthers had eight players on the pitch against the Indians’ 11.
“That’s just the way the game kind of went for them. They had a few guys with some rash challenges, got them sent off,” Kelly said.
The Indians defeated the Panthers on back-to-back Tuesday night matches as the Indians won 3-0 last Tuesday in Great Bend, then won this Tuesday at home.
The Indians played Garden City on the road Thursday night, dropping the contest 2-1. Their current record sits at 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the WAC.
“WAC is always tough. There are lots of great teams that play in the WAC. Winning on the road in the WAC is never easy. You got those long bus rides, and then you’ve got some crazy fans at every single one of those sites,” Kelly said.
The Indians will be back at home on October 2nd, against the Liberal Redskins.
“The atmosphere inside the stadium is awesome. The sound bowls together with the school being wrapped around the stadium, so you hear everything,” Kelly said. “It’s really, really a cool atmosphere.”