WICHITA —Great Bend’s soccer team stunned Class 6A Derby 2-1 Saturday to capture the Red Bracket championship of the Wichita South Titan Soccer Classic.
The Panthers (3-2) defeated Class 6A Wichita East 3-0 and Class 6A Hutchinson 1-0 in overtime to reach the finals.
Panther striker Erick Martinez scored a pair of unassisted second-half goals. His first goal came on a shot from 40 yards out when the goalie failed to clear the ball. His second goal came on a direct kick from 25 yards that deflected off a defender into the goal.
“It’s special to achieve a goal that these seniors have never accomplished. The guys were really excited when the game ended,” said Great Bend coach Jesus Loera. “All our guys left their seats and were giving each other high fives.”
Loera said Martinez’s first goal sparked the Panthers.
“That shows things can change in an instant,” he said. “Things shifted and that put new life into our team. We did amazing things today.”
Martinez scored again to hand the Panthers the lead 15 minutes into the second half. Goalie Daniel Cervantes was pushed to the limit when teammate Danny Franco drew a pair of yellow cards to miss the final 25 minutes.
“Daniel has some pretty good saves,” Loera said.
Loera said assistant coach Rodrigo Adame helped with coaching adjustments.
“It’s a team effort on the sidelines and we’ve got smart assistants who provide their advice,” he said. “Derby was a tough team. We eventually found our rhythm and started to dominate the middle and work our combinations to teammates better.”
The Panthers play at Hays High Monday.
TITAN CLASSIC
RED BRACKET
Championship—Great Bend 2, Derby 1
3rd place—Wichita East 2, Newton 0
5th place—Hays High 3, Hutchinson High 2, OT
7th place—Wichita Trinity 3, Topeka West 1
WHITE BRACKET
Championship—Salina Central 5, Wichita Heights 1
3rd place—Wichita West 4, Wichita South 1
5th place—Wichita Homeschool vs. Wichita Southeast
7th place—Emporia 6, Circle 0
BLUE BRACKET
FRIDAY
Semifinal—Wichita Carroll 1, Maize High 0, shootout
Semifinal—Dodge City 2, Kapaun-Mt. Carmel 1, OT
SATURDAY
Championship—Dodge City 3, Wichita Carroll 2
3rd place—Kapaun-Mt. Carmel 5, Maize High 0
5th place—Wichita North 4, Liberal 1
7th place—Wichita Northwest 4, Manhattan 1
Western Athletic
Garden City 1-0 3-0
Liberal 1-0 2-2
Dodge City 0-0 4-0
Great Bend 0-1 3-2
Hays High 0-1 3-2
Monday’s game
Great Bend at Hays High
Tuesday’s games
Hays-TMP at Garden City
Dodge City at Liberal
GARDEN CITY (3-0)—Hays High 4-0; Campus 2-0 (Goddard Tournament); Goddard Eisenhower 2-1 (Goddard Tournament); 9-13, Hays-Thomas More Prep; 9-15, at Liberal; 9-17, 1st, Goddard (Goddard Tournament); 9-20, at Dodge City; 9-27, Great Bend; 9-29, Dodge City; 10-4, Liberal; 10-6, at Great Bend; 10-10, North Cup; 10-12, North Cup; 10-15, North Cup; 10-17, at Hays-Thomas More Prep; 10-18, Hays High
DODGE CITY (4-0)—Wichita South 9-1; Wichita Northwest 5-1 (Titan Clas-sic); Kapaun-Mt. Carmel 2-1 (Titan Classic); 9-10, 1st, Wichita Carroll 3-2 Titan Classic; 9-13, at Liberal; 9-15, at Hays High; 9-20, Garden City; 9-22, at Great Bend; 9-27, Hutchinson; 9-29, at Garden City; 10-4, Hays High; 10-6, at Hays-Thomas More Prep; 10-11, Great Bend; 10-13, Wichita Heights; 10-18, Kapaun-Mt. Carmel; 10-20, Liberal
GREAT BEND (3-2)—Salina Central 2-3; Liberal 2-5; Hutchinson 1-0, OT (Titan Classic); Wichita East 3-0 (Titan Classic); 9-10, Derby 2-1 (Titan Clas-sic); 9-12, at Hays High; 9-20, Hays High; 9-22, Dodge City; 9-24, at Man-hattan; 9-27, at Garden City; 10-4, TMP; 10-6, Garden City; 10-10, Wichi-ta Independent; 10-11, at Dodge City; 10-17, at Liberal; 10-20. at McPher-son
HAYS HIGH (3-2) — Garden City 0-4; Wichita Classical 10-0; Derby 2-3 (Titan Classic); Topeka West 6-0 (Titan Classic); 9-10, Hutchinson 3-2 OT (Titan Classic); 9-12, Great Bend; 9-15, Dodge City; 9-20, at Great Bend; 9-22, Buhler; 9-27, at Junction City; 9-29, at Liberal; 10-4, at Dodge City; 10-6, Liberal; 10-8, at Wichita Carroll; 10-18, Garden City; 10-20, Hays-Thomas More Prep
LIBERAL (2-2)—Great Bend 5-2; Kapaun-Mt. Carmel 1-6 (Titan Classic); Wichita NW 2-1 (Titan Classic); 5th, Wichita North 1-4 (Titan Classic); 9-13, Dodge City; 9-15, Garden City; 9-22, at Hays-Thomas More Prep; 9-24, Wichita North; 9-29, at Hays High; 10-4, at Garden City; 10-6, at Hays; 10-10, North Cup; 10-13, North Cup; 10-15, North Cup; 10-17, Great Bend; 10-20, at Dodge City
