After a 5-1 victory over Hesston on Tuesday, Oct. 22, the Hays High School boys soccer team traveled to Wichita for their first playoff game.

On Monday, Oct. 28, they faced off against the Bishop Carroll Golden Eagles. The Indians won with a score of 2-1. Seniors Henry Speno and Cooper L. Johnson scored the two goals of the night.

On Thursday, Oct. 31, Hays played the Wichita West Chargers for their regional championship match. The Indians won the game, 2-0, not allowing the Chargers to score. Senior Preston Parr and sophomore Ivan Maldonado each scored a goal for Hays High.

To celebrate their regional win, many of the players buzzed their hair. Among these were sophomores Camden Luck and Cyler Luck, who also chose to bleach their hair in celebration.

In their following match, the state quarterfinals on Monday, Nov. 4, Hays lost 1-0 to Maize South. This game marked the end of the season. It was also the farthest that Hays High boys soccer has advanced since 2017.

Senior Kenny Fisher played as the team’s goalie throughout the season. He described his perspective as playing as a senior.

“It doesn’t feel like my senior year,” Fisher said before their last match. “Maybe when the season ends, that will start to dawn on me.”

Johnson also shared how his senior year season was affecting his emotions as his last high school soccer season drew to a close.

“It’s fun to be a senior because I can be more of a leader than before, and more freedoms come with being a senior,” Johnson said. “At the same time, it’s very sad because I am going to miss the team and playing with all my friends.”

26ddixon@usd489.com