Kansas high school boys soccer playoff game scores: Derby’s defense advances in postseason
A three-match losing streak at the start of October made it clear to the Derby boys soccer team what it must do to experience success: defend, defend and defend.
Since conceding eight goals in the three-game skid, the Panthers have won five straight games, allowing just two total goals, following a 4-1 home victory over Junction City on Tuesday night in the first round of postseason play.
Derby improved to 13-4 on the season and will play for a Class 6A regional championship at home against Garden City (12-5) at 6 p.m. Thursday.
“We understand that we’re not an offensive juggernaut, so we have to be all about defense,” Derby coach Paul Burke said. “We don’t really have one guy who can get us a goal any time. So we really focus on being organized in the back, having a great shape and just try not to put ourselves in a bad spot. Our defense is going to be what drives us.”
That’s been the Derby way for years now, as this year’s version of the Panthers have followed the blueprint by allowing just 14 goals in 17 games to advance in the Kansas high school postseason once again.
The defense has been led by a group of juniors in Jadan Denesongkham, Collin Meyer, Bo Day, Mason Richardson and Beckham Kantukule. After waiting his turn behind an all-state goalkeeper for the past two years, Ethan Young, another junior, has ascended to become, in his coach’s estimation, a “top-five keeper in the state.”
Combined with one of the deepest rosters Burke has ever had at his disposal — he’s confident in his top 17 players — Derby has found success grinding down opponents this season.
In the attack, sophomore forward Angel Vielmas has already proven to be the team’s most dangerous threat. Juniors Diego Vaquera and Adrian Campos have also provided support, while freshman Angel Campos has flashed the potential of being a workhorse from box to box.
“From what I have seen, we probably play the most people on a normal night,” Burke said. “We have a massive junior class that is driving us right now and we’re just a solid group. We’ve really bought into being a team. We truly are a family and we treat everything we do like a family.”
Kansas high school boys soccer playoff scores
Class 6A
Dodge City 10, Campus 0
Derby 4, Junction City 1
Wichita East 5, Wichita West 1
Wichita Northwest 2, Wichita Southeast 1
Wichita North 3, Liberal 0
Class 5A
Maize South 10, Salina Central 0
Emporia 6, Valley Center 1
Newton 8, Topeka West 0
Andover Central 3, Goddard Eisenhower 1
Goddard 4, Hutchinson 3 (OT)
Maize 3, Salina South 2 (2 OT)
Andover 1, Hays 0
Kapaun Mt. Carmel 2, Bishop Carroll 1 (OT)
Class 4-1A
Buhler 10, Cair Paravel 0
Independence 7, El Dorado 0
Rose Hill 3, McPherson Elyria Christian 0
Augusta 6, Chanute 0
McPherson 1, Coffeyville 0
Wichita Trinity Academy 1, Winfield 0 (3-2 in PKs)
Wichita Classical 2, Berean Academy 1
Topeka Hayden 1, Mulvane 0
Kansas high school boys soccer playoff schedule
Note: All regional championship games to be played on Thursday.
Class 6A
Wichita North (9-8) at Dodge City (17-0), 7 p.m.
Lawrence Free State (7-7-2) at Wichita East (13-3-1), 3:30
Wichita Northwest (11-5-1) at Washburn Rural (14-3), 6
Garden City (12-5) at Derby (13-4), 6
Class 5A
Kapaun Mt. Carmel (10-7) at Maize South (17-0), 6:30 p.m.
Andover (9-6-2) at Emporia (15-2), 6:15
Maize (12-5) at Newton (15-2), 6
Goddard (12-5) at Andover Central (14-2-1), 6
Class 4A
Topeka Hayden (8-8-1) at Buhler (16-1), 6 p.m.
Wichita Classical (7-10) at Independence (15-1-1), 4
Wichita Trinity Academy (6-9-2) at Rose Hill (12-4-1), 7
McPherson (6-11) at Augusta (12-5), 6
This story was originally published October 25, 2022 at 7:45 PM.
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