TMP soccer advances to regional final
Published on -10/28/2009, 1:49 PM
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By RANDY GONZALES
In the playoffs, it's survive and advance.
The Thomas More Prep-Marian boys' soccer team advanced to the Class 4-3-2-1A Regional Championships for the first in program history with Tuesday's 2-0 win over Elyria Christian.
TMP-Marian (11-6) will play Friday at 4 p.m. at No. 2 seed Wichita-Trinity (13-4), a 2-1 winner over Valley Center.
Tuesday's result was a little closer than Monarch coach Shawn Lawson would have preferred against a side TMP-Marian beat twice before this season by a combined score of 13-0.
"Lot of it was them," Lawson said of the Eagles. "They've improved a lot."
TMP-Marian dominated play in the final third for much of the first half, but missed several scoring opportunities. The Monarchs finally broke through in the 36th minute on a goal by junior Kyle Braun, who scored on a loose ball in the box after a header by junior Jordan Maska hit the cross bar.
"I knew we would score, felt good to get it," Maska said. "Happy who got it -- Kyle Braun's first goal of the season."
The Monarchs peppered Eagle senior goalkeeper Jonathan Froese with nine shots on goal in the first half, and had more scoring chances that just missed.
"Had a lot of opportunities early, didn't finish," Lawson said.
"Last 10 minutes, I was really wondering. If we go into half 0-0 -- not good.
"I told them if a team hangs around, bad things can happen," Lawson added.
TMP-Marian got some breathing room, making it a two-goal margin in the 69th minute. Froese stopped the initial shot, but couldn't control it. Junior Paul Lim, who has played mainly on junior varsity this year, but who was called up due to illness and injury, pounced on the loose ball to score his second goal in as many games.
Monarch sophomore forward Eric Choi put the ball in the net as time expired, but the goal was disallowed by the head official, who said it came too late.
Monarch sophomore keeper Drew O'Brien made eight saves, but didn't have a tough chance.
Now, it's on to Wichita, to face a Trinity side TMP-Marian has never beaten.
"Great challenge for us," Maska said. "We're going to have to play a lot better."
Wichita-Trinity has won nine straight regional titles and finished third at state last season.
"I've always liked playing Trinity because they're the cream of the crop of 4-3-2-1A," Lawson said. "I think this is the year."
