by Brian Turrel
The Sumner Academy boys soccer team traveled to Basehor-Linwood High School for the 4-1A northeast regional final on Thursday evening, coming away with a 4 – 0 win and the championship plaque. The regional championship is the first in the program’s history.
The cold, windy weather played an active part in the game. Sumner, playing out of the south goal in the first half, faced into strong northerly gusts that knocked down every long pass forward. Even so, the Sabres struck in the 10th minute, with a goal from senior forward Alfonso Vela.
Sumner used accurate passing from its back line and sideline runs from speedy senior midfielder Brian Alvarez to control the ball for much of the first half, but they were unable to add to their total.
The 1 – 0 Sumner lead stood for much of the second half. Basehor stepped up its defensive pressure, and the game became more of a grind. The tough, physical play eventually led to three yellow cards handed out to the Sabres.
With only 11 minutes remaining, Sumner slammed the door on the Bobcats’ hopes for a comeback, picking up three goals in the span of 9 minutes. Senior forward Mauricio Moya started the surge with a hot shot down the middle from 18 yards out.
Alvarez picked up Sumner’s third goal with a sliding cross from the left corner. Freshman midfielder Luis Navidad-Hernandez closed out the scoring by putting back a rebound off the Basehor goalkeeper from close range.
Sumner, now 12-2-1 on the season, moves on to the state quarterfinals, to be played on Tuesday, Oct. 31.
Photos copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel
