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Great Bend downs Salina South soccer 3-1
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Great Bend's Jonathan Pasos recovers the soccer ball, dribbles into Salina's goalie box, and scores for the Panthers. - photo by Hugo Gonzalez

BY JIM MISUNAS

jmisunas@gbtribune.com

A pair of second-half goals sparked Great Bend's soccer team past Salina South 3-1 in a light north wind with chilling 30-degree temperatures.

Great Bend (6-9) plays at Salina Central (6-8-1) at 5 p.m. Thursday in the second round. Salina Central downed Hays High 4-2 on penalty kicks after a 1-1 tie in regulation and 30 minutes of overtime.

"We've played enough in the cold weather that we know how to prepare," said Great Bend coach Jesus Loera. "We showed good discipline on the defensive side. Juan Sanchez did an exceptional job with their good midfield and their striker Brandon Oaks. South looked to him every time and we contained him." 

The Cougars controlled play part of the first half until Jaime Arellanes scored (8:50) on a free kick that he directed past goalie Gabriel Nunez. 

"Momentum swung in South's favor, but we kept fighting," Loera said. "We did just enough to get better looks and moved the ball better. We won our share of 50/50 balls."

South squared the score 1-1 on Joshua Amador's goal (20:00) on a header off a corner kick. But the Panthers responded with the game-winning goal by Jonathan Pasos (18:00) and the insurance goal by Mario Arias.

"We're very pleased anytime you earn a win in postseason," Loera said. "We're looking forward to Thursday."

GREAT BEND 3, SALINA SOUTH 1

Salina South (5-11-1) 0 1 — 1

Great Bend (6-9) 1 2 — 3

FIRST HALF—GB—Jaime Arellanes, 8:50

SECOND HALF—SS—Joshua Amador, 20:00; GB—Jonathan Pasos, 18:00; GB—Mario Arias, 4:15

GOALIES—SS—Gabriel Nunez; GB—Edwin Chavez

5A PLAYOFFS

REG. 1—Salina Central 2, Hays High 1, OT (4-2 PK); Great Bend 3, Salina South 1; THURSDAY—Great Bend 3, Salina Central 2; Great Bend 7-9

REG. 2—Maize South 4, Goddard 2; Maize High 2, Goddard Eisenhower 0; FINAL SATURDAY—Maize South 16-1 vs. Maize High 14-2-1

REG. 3—Wichita Carroll 10, Arkansas City 0; Valley Center 2, Kapaun Mt. Carmel 0; THURSDAY—Wichita Carroll 7-6-1 vs. Valley Center 7-10

REG. 4—Newton 10-6 vs. Emporia 7-7-1; Andover Central 1, Andover High 0, OT; FINAL SATURDAY—Andover Central 9-8

REG. 5—Shawnee Heights 5, Topeka West 2; Topeka Seaman 7, Highland Park 0; THURSDAY—Shawnee Heights 2, Topeka Seaman 1, OT Shawnee Heights 12-4-1 

REG. 6—Lansing 3, Leavenworth 1; Basehor 3, KC Piper 0; THURSDAY—Lansing 3, Basehor 0; Lansing 8-7-1

REG. 7—Lenexa St. James 10, Bonner Springs 0; St. James 1, KC Turner 0, forfeit; Mill Valley 1, DeSoto 0; THURSDAY—Mill Valley 2, St. James 0; Mill Valley 6-8-1

REG. 8—Spring Hill 12-2 vs. Pittsburg 4-5-2; St. Thomas Aquinas 3, Blue Valley Southwest 1; FRIDAY—Aquinas 11-3-3