By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Luxanna Sands got Topeka High off to a great start and an even better ending Tuesday at Hayden.
Sands, a senior, scored both Topeka High goals, lifting the Trojans to a 2-1 overtime Centennial League victory over the Wildcats.
Hayden senior Kate Roeder (middle) advances the ball as Topeka High senior Luxanna Sands (left) and sophomore Ronnie Blancas defend. Sands scored both Trojan goals in a 2-1 overtime win over the Wildcats. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Hayden senior CC Hammes (8) moves the ball upfield against Topeka High freshman Alexa Aguirre Tuesday at Hayden. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Sands, a returning All-Shawnee County midfielder, scored High's first goal in the first five minutes of the contest off an assist from Cierra Carranza and then broke a 1-1 tie with her second goal of the day 4:34 into the first overtime period.
"She has been a good scorer for us since she stepped on campus four years ago,'' Topeka High coach Derek Snook said of Sands. "She leads to a lot of our attack for sure.''
Sands' early goal gave Topeka High a 1-0 lead that stood up until the 16:44 mark of the second half when Hayden sophomore defender Lauren Sandstrom put a long-range shot in the goal.
The score remained 1-1 until Sands scored on a breakaway in OT as Topeka High improved to 7-3-0.
"It's great to be able to pull it out,'' Snook said. "I thought we had them on their heels early on and then the momentum kind of switched. I don't know if we got a little tired, a little slugglish, but they turned up the heat and got the tying goal in regulation.
"They came out fired up early in the overtime, but I think our girls somehow turned the switch. That little bit of a break in between the end of the second half and overtime kind of helped us out for sure.''
Topeka High continues to fight through injuries and Snook said Tuesday's win was a big boost.
"We're just beat up,'' Snook said. "We walk out of here withh more icepacks than anything else at the end of the game.''
Hayden, now 7-2-1, sufffered its second straight loss, to Class 5A St. James Academy and 6A Topeka High.
TOPEKA HIGH 2, HAYDEN 1 (OT)
Topeka High (7-3-0) 1 0 1 -- 2
Hayden (7-2-1) 0 1 0 -- 1
Topeka High -- Goals: Sands 2. Assist: Carranza.
Hayden -- Goal: Sandstrom.
