By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
The Cair Paravel Latin boys soccer team recorded a first in school history Thursday night, winning a Class 4-1A regional championship.
Cair Paravel celebrates its first-ever boys regional soccer title Thursday at Berean Academy. [Photo by Jan Pabitzky/Special to TSN]
Having won a playoff game on Tuesday for only the second time in school history, the Lions traveled to face Berean Academy of Elbing Thursday. They took along a big group of fans who watched the team win 3-0, claiming the regional title and qualifying for the quarterfinal round next week.
Cair Paravel, one of just eight schools classified as 2A or 1A to field boys soccer teams, released its classes early Thursday, allowing a large portion of the student body to make the trip to Elbing, a small town near Newton, to attend the game.
“We had the stands packed full of friendly faces, which was great,” said Cair Paravel coach Mark Congdon. “It was a great win. A really exciting game.”
The Lions beat Circle High School 6-2 on Tuesday to advance to the regional final. They drew another 2A opponent, one with an advantage over Cair Paravel, which also fields a football team in addition to soccer.
“Berean Academy doesn’t have a football program, so they have got a lot of athletes,” Congdon said. “They started only juniors and seniors, whereas we start several underclassmen. They are a big, tall, physical team and it was a hard-fought battle. I think we just had the better finishers up top, which is what made the difference.”
Cair Paravel's Nathan Keys (right) celebrates his goal in Thursday's 3-0 regional game at Berean Academy with teammate Henry Sterling, who also had a goal in the win. [Photo by Jan Pabitzky/Special to TSN]
Judah Congdon scored a goal in Cair Paravel's 3-0 regional win at Berean Academy. [Photo by Jan Pabitzky/Special to TSN]
Nathan Keys’ bicycle kick put the Lions on top early. Henry Sterling notched the Lions’ second goal on a pass from Judah Congdon. Leading 2-0 for much of the contest, the Lions received an insurance goal from Judah Congdon with about 10 minutes remaining.
Coach Congdon praised junior Ben Bolze, the Lions’ goalkeeper, for keeping the Warriors off the board.
“Ben notched six saves and pitched a shutout,” Congdon said. “He was fantastic. He was probably our MVP of the game.”
Cair Paravel will face another 2A school – Classical School of Wichita – next Monday at SCHEELS Stryker Complex in Wichita.
“The little schools ride these waves of athletes and participation,” Congdon said. “I was looking forward to this season starting about four years ago. I could foresee that certain stars were going to align, and we were going to be peaking this year.
“It’s been an investment over the last couple of years. The seniors on this team, in their freshman year, got one win. They were 1-14 that year. So, to watch this senior class grow from that 1-14 freshman season to this is storybook. They are on cloud nine. They are bonding really well. I think we’re playing our best soccer of the season. We’re peaking at the right time.”
Cair Paravel is in its fifth year as a participant in the KSHSAA playoff system. Congdon said in their very first year of participation, the Lions won their opening round game. They haven’t won a playoff game since. This was the Lions’ first year to be a high enough seed to host an opening round game.
Remaining alive in the bracket with Cair Paravel are McPherson and Rose Hill. Congdon admitted being one of the few small schools facing much bigger competition is tough, but there are some advantages.
“I think being a small school, one of the pros is that intangible, the chemistry that you get from knowing each other so well, growing up together,” Congdon said. “They call each other family, brothers. I think that translates to the field. It’s something that doesn’t show up on paper, but it certainly shows up when you’re watching the game.”
CAIR PARAVEL LATIN 3, BEREAN ACADEMY 0
Cair Paravel (11-6-0) 2 1 — 3
Berean Academy (11-6-1) 0 0 — 0
Cair Paravel -- Goals: Keys, Sterling, Congdon. Assist: Congdon. Shutout: Bolze.
