FC Wichita hosts Shreveport in first round of playoffs

In its bid to repeat as conference champion, FC Wichita faced uncertainty when it came to its attack.

Compared to its fellow contenders, Tulsa Athletics and Dutch Lions FC, FC Wichita had been lackluster in the goal-scoring category up until the last week of the regular season.

Then FC Wichita scored 11 times – exactly one-third of its season’s output – in two games against the same hapless opponent, the Joplin Demize.

But can confidence gained against an overmatched side translate to success against real competition? That’s what third-seeded FC Wichita (9-1-2) will find out Wednesday when it hosts sixth-seeded Shreveport FC (5-2-5) in the opening round of the NPSL South Central Conference playoffs at the Stryker Soccer Complex.

The winner advances to the semifinals in Tulsa to play Dutch Lions FC on Saturday with the finals the next day, which would mean a stretch of three games in five days for FC Wichita to repeat.

“It’s funny because the thing we’ve been missing this entire season – that punch at the end, putting the ball in the net when we need to – was the thing we were awesome at against Joplin,” FC Wichita manager Johnny Markey said. “I think we finally found it.”

The Joplin games also coincided with Max Touloute and Jiro Barriga finally being able to join the club. Touloute, a striker, scored a trio of goals in last Sunday’s 7-0 win in Joplin, while Barriga played a role in three goals in the 4-0 win at home last Friday.

While they are sure to find more resistance against Shreveport, FC Wichita feels that its goal-scoring woes were solved, regardless of the level of competition.

“Any time you’re coming off two games where you score 11 goals, confidence should be riding high,” defender Kevin Ten Eyck said. “I think it was important for us to see the ball in the back of the net, especially there after a couple of games where we struggled.”

Larry Inlow, director of soccer operations for FC Wichita and last season’s coach, pointed out the importance of hosting in the playoffs.

Since the players are amateurs, many work day jobs and could find it difficult to take two days off of work for a road trip. Throw in a 10-hour bus ride like the one Shreveport will have to make, and FC Wichita feels like it has an advantage.

“Each player has their own ritual that makes them feel like they’ll be at peak performance come game time,” Inlow said. “Whenever you’re away from home, those things get altered. Those little mental things can be a big deal to players.”

Markey said he has already chosen a starting 11 and formation, although he did not want to reveal it before the game. He did confirm, however, that outside back Brent Hobson and midfielders Jeffrey Kyei and Spencer Vue – all starters at some point this season – will be available for Wednesday’s game.

Combine that with Sunday’s 7-0 victory and Markey is feeling confident heading into his first playoff game as manager.

“If I was Shreveport watching that on film, I’d be a little worried,” Markey said. “I bet Wednesday is going to be one of our best showings yet and we’re going to put the fear of God into Tulsa and (Dutch Lions FC) or whoever we play after that.”

This story was originally published July 5, 2016 at 4:48 PM with the headline "FC Wichita hosts Shreveport in first round of playoffs."