The 4-1A Regional Championship was played in below freezing temperature, but the cold didn’t stop the Indians from heating up, winning 2-0 over Wichita Trinity.

“The boys played their hearts out, it was a great team win,” coach Silas Hibbs said. “I couldn’t be more proud of the boys and just to see how excited they were, that’s kind of why you coach.”

The Indians and the Knights fought all half for a leg up in this match. Both teams had solid scoring opportunities but went into the half scoreless.

The second half, the Indians had a spark from their senior captain Ethan Nunnery, who scored in the 49^th minute.

“That’s type of play you expect from your senior captain, in a big game,” Hibbs said. “He had a look in his eye before the game that kind of said he was ready to play, and so I was just waiting for him to break one loose.”

The Indians continued to push for a larger lead and would find the back of the net in the 56^th minute, off a corner from senior Zach Wagner to junior Jacob Maska to extend the lead to 2-0.

“That goal couldn’t have been more perfect, Jake finished that opportunity, but he played so hard,” Hibbs said.

The Indians wouldn’t let down, holding the Knights scoreless all game to end with a 2-0 victory. The win over Trinity sends the Indians to the state quarterfinals where they will face off against Andover Central on Oct. 31 at 5 p.m. in Andover.

19jmaska@usd489.com