TOPEKA — Two teams from the capital city remain in the girls soccer season as Washburn Rural and Cair Paravel are both primed for a state championship. They will compete in the state tournament semifinals on Friday after winning Tuesday’s quarterfinal.
Comfort levels and experience will be an added bonus for both teams. Many of the players have played in the final four before and each program each faced a final four opponent during the regular season.
Washburn Rural strives for title
The Junior Blues defeated Lawrence Free State 4-0 in the Class 6A State Quarterfinal on Tuesday night to advance to the semifinal for a 10th consecutive season. The team is still looking for a state title during that stretch and this year’s team provides a great opportunity.
Washburn Rural (16-3) will face Blue Valley Northwest (13-5-1) on Friday at Hummer Sports Park for the semifinal match at 4 p.m.
The winner will face Blue Valley West (14-3-1) or Maize (14-4-1) in the state championship on Saturday at 3 p.m. The consolation match is set for noon.
Washburn Rural has not faced Blue Valley Northwest or Maize this season. The Junior Blues did fall 1-0 to Blue Valley West in the final game of the regular season and two teams seemed equal on the field. Still, the Kansas City-area school earned the victory. It could be an interesting state championship match if the two teams were to advance on Friday.
Washburn Rural soccer:How Washburn Rural girls soccer will try to make its 10th consecutive final four trip
State Tournament soccer:Cair Paravel soccer gets their 'revenge', Washburn Rural makes 10th straight final four
Cair Paravel’s second appearance in three years
The Lions are headed back to the Class 4-1A State Tournament. Cair Paravel reached the semifinal after defeating Baldwin 6-1 on Tuesday night.
Cair Paravel (14-4-1) will match up with McPherson (13-5-1) in Friday’s semifinal hosted at Wichita’s Stryker Sports Complex at 6:30 p.m.
This is the first meeting between the two teams this season. Cair Paravel has won eight straight games entering the semifinal, outscoring its opponents 65-7 during that stretch.
The winner will face Rose Hill (13-3-1) or Bishop Miege (12-7) in the championship. Bishop Miege has won seven straight state championships, but the Lions will have some familiarity against the powerhouse from the Kansas City area if they were to meet. Cair Paravel’s last defeat came in a 2-1 decision to the Stags in early April.
The Class 4-1A State Championship will be held on Saturday at 3 p.m. following the consolation match at noon.
Liam Keating covers high school sports for The Topeka Capital-Journal. Send stats or information to him at Lkeating@gannett.com.
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