Wichita Southeast soccer revival reaches new heights with a regional title
The Wichita Southeast boys soccer team is one win away from a place it hasn’t been in nearly two decades.
With a dominant 7-1 win over City League rival Wichita North on Thursday, the Golden Buffaloes captured a Class 6A regional championship and moved within a game of returning to the state semifinals for the first time since 2008.
Southeast will host Dodge City in the 6A quarterfinals at 6 p.m. Monday.
A year after suffering an emotional postseason exit — losing at home to a City League rival in a regional final to end an undefeated season — Southeast made sure history didn’t repeat itself. The Golden Buffaloes, the City League champions and No. 1 seed in Class 6A West once again, brought intensity and focus to Thursday’s rematch with North.
“We were trying to avoid last year’s lapse in this game,” Southeast coach Cody Fitch said. “The main thing was bringing the intensity and I thought our guys were fired up. They do a really good job of motivating each other and they came out on fire tonight.”
The fire was evident from the opening whistle, as Southeast quickly overwhelmed a North team that had challenged it just three weeks earlier in a 3-2 win after falling behind 2-0 early.
Under Fitch, a 2006 Southeast graduate, the Golden Buffaloes have restored pride in its proud soccer program. Fitch’s return to his alma mater has sparked a remarkable revival: a City League championship and undefeated regular season in 2023, followed by a 17-1 record and a repeat title this season.
“I’m really proud of this team,” Fitch said. “When I came back, I wanted to put Southeast soccer back on the map like we were when I played. I knew we could get a lot better, but I wasn’t sure how good we could get. They’ve kind of surpassed my expectations. But this is what we’re trying to do, win regional plaques and get to state.”
What makes this year’s success even more impressive is the turnover from last season. Southeast lost a deep and talented senior class, yet the next wave has stepped in seamlessly.
Senior captain Daniel Puga leads a dynamic attack alongside juniors Lincoln Ashby and Brayden Pauler. The midfield trio of junior Noah Lacio, senior Tumba David and junior Adrian Puga controls possession, while seniors Luundo Wamasakala, Nestor Lopez and Chris Makobo and junior Kusudi Luyi anchor a sturdy defense in front of standout goalkeeper David Mlendja. Sophomore Lubangya Mwenda has become a key super sub, scoring several clutch goals off the bench this month.
“The motivation has been there since the start of the season,” Daniel Puga said. “I think the boys really wanted it this year after seeing how much it hurt the seniors (losing) last year.”
The captain said the team’s chemistry has been a defining strength.
“It’s super fun with all of the dynamic players and the energy,” he said. “No one on our team is selfish. Everybody wants to see each other eat and we all want to win together.”
Southeast’s balanced scoring attack has turned it into one of the most complete teams in Kansas high school soccer. With the sting of last year’s disappointment fueling them, the Golden Buffaloes are back on the brink of history.
“What stands out about us is that we’ve got tremendous depth and athleticism everywhere,” Fitch said. “You never know quite where we’re going to hit you from. It could start from the left back. It could come from a through ball out of the middle or from the right wing. It could hit you from anywhere and every game it’s someone different.”
Kansas high school boys soccer regional final scores
Class 6A
Garden City 2, Maize 1 (OT)
Washburn Rural 3, Wichita East 1
Wichita Southeast 7, Wichita North 1
Class 5A
Kapaun Mt. Carmel 5, Hutchinson 0
Maize South 3, Goddard Eisenhower 1
Newton 1, Bishop Carroll 0
Class 4-1A
McPherson 3, Independence 0
Rose Hill 1, Wichita Trinity 0
Topeka Cair Paravel 3, Berean 0
Wichita Classical 3, Hesston 0
KSHSAA boys soccer quarterfinals schedule
Note: All games scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3 unless otherwise noted.
Class 6A
Dodge City (15-2-1) at Wichita Southeast (17-1)
Garden City (15-2-1) at Washburn Rural (16-1-1)
Class 5A
Kapaun Mt. Carmel (13-5) at Newton (15-3)
Salina South (13-5) at Maize South (16-1-1)
Class 4-1A
McPherson (10-8) at Rose Hill (16-2)
Topeka Cair Paravel (11-6) at Wichita Classical (13-5)
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