By The Hays Daily News

WICHITA -- A broken down bus didn't stop them from making the trip.

And tradition-rich Wichita-Trinity couldn't keep the Monarchs from keeping their record-setting season alive.

Now, the Thomas More Prep-Marian boys' soccer team is a regional champion and headed to state.

The Monarchs shut out Wichita-Trinity 3-0 Friday in the Class 4-3-2-1A Regional 2 title match of the South Central Region to advance to this week's state playoffs.

"This, by far, is the best game we've played," TMP-Marian coach Shawn Lawson said. "Most complete, from top to bottom."

TMP-Marian (12-6) will play Rose Hill (15-1), last year's state runner-up, in the quarterfinals at 7 p.m. Monday at Rose Hill.

Rose Hill defeated Nickerson 3-1 in the Regional 1 title game, helped by two penalty kicks in the second half.

The winners of those games advance to Friday's semifinals at Towanda-Circle.

The third-place and state championship games are both on Saturday.

After the All-American Tours bus that TMP-Marian uses for road games broke down Thursday, the Monarchs had to pack into school Suburbans to make the trip to Wichita Friday.

TMP-Marian broke through in the 32nd minute on a goal by junior striker Teddy Kang.

"He had a breakaway up the middle, beat two defenders, beat the keeper," Lawson said.

Kang scored again on a header on a pass from junior Jordan Maska in the 44th, then Maska scored in the 50th on a pass from Kang.

Kang now has 16 goals on the season, tying junior midfielder Rogelio Gonzalez for the team lead.

The Monarch defense posted its school-record ninth shutout, with sophomore goalkeeper Drew O'Brien making four saves.

"They played well," Lawson said. "Drew O'Brien was fantastic, especially in the second half when they had the wind."

Wichita Trinity, which had never lost to TMP-Marian, was third at state last year after finishing as state runner-up three years ago. The Knights (13-5) were looking for their 10th consecutive regional championship.

Instead, the Monarchs added to their own list of milestones in the fifth season of the school's soccer program.

"It's kind of surreal," Lawson said. "We had been on the receiving end of so many beatings through the years."