By JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
WICHITA — Great Bend’s Mauricio Hernandez scored two goals and Erick Martinez added a goal as the Panther soccer team stunned Wichita East 3-0 Wednesday to reach the Wichita South Titan Classic red bracket championship.
The Panthers (2-2) were scheduled to play Derby in Saturday’s 3 p.m. championship game at Wichita South. Derby outlasted Newton 4-3 in overtime.
“It’s huge for our program to make the finals with a team as young as we have,” said Great Bend coach Jesus Loera. “This is exactly what we needed after starting 0-2. It’s a really big confidence boost for us. It lets our team know what we’re trying is working. We hope to continue to see improvement.”
In the first round, Great Bend nipped Hutchinson High 1-0 in overtime when Mauricio Hernandez fed the game-winning pass to Martinez.
“It was just a minute or two into overtime when Mauri fed Erick with a perfect pass,” Loera said. “Hutchinson is defintely a strong soccer team.”
Striker Martinez joins David Franco, Joshua Rodriguez, Mauricio Hernandez and Brian Galindo on the offensive front.
Goalie Daniel Cervantes made several athletic saves to preserve back-to-back shutouts.
“Our goalie has done an exceptional job,” Loera said. “He’s stayed composed and made some big saves.”
Darien Sanchez is the defensive leader. He joins Junior Franco, Anthony Brown, Rogelio Arias and Alberto Levya and Chiny Sanchez on the defensive end.
“Darien Sanchez does a great job of organzing our defense,” Loera said.
Loera said he learned a lot about his team’s skill in the first two games, and quickly made adjustments.
“I wasn’t familiar with the team and didn’t know where everyone fit,” Loera said. “We’ve played three different formations, but now we’ve settled into the same rotation. We’re trying to get comfortable.”
The Panthers feature eight ninth-graders on their varsity lineup.
“We’re improving every game, and already we’re seeing a different outcome,” he said. “I am not surprised by what they’ve done. I had worked with these young players and knew what they were capable of. I’m definitely pleased by their progress.”
Western Athletic
Garden City 1-0 2-0
Liberal 1-0 1-1
Dodge City 0-0 2-0
Great Bend 0-1 2-2
Hays High 0-1 1-2
Wednesday’s games
Great Bend 3, Wichita East 0
Hays High 6, Topeka West 0
Thursday’s games
Dodge City vs. Kapaun-Mt Carmel
Liberal vs. Wichita Northwest
Garden City vs. Goddard Eisenhower
Saturday’s games
Great Bend vs. Derby (championship)
Liberal at Wichita South (5th/7th place)
Garden City at Goddard (1st/3rd place)
GARDEN CITY (2-0)—Hays High 4-0; Campus 2-0 (Goddard Tournament); 9-9, Goddard Eisenhower (Goddard Tournament); 9-10, 1st/3rd, at Goddard Tournament; 9-13, Hays-Thomas More Prep; 9-15, at Liberal; 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 (2-0)—Wichita South 9-1; Wichita Northwest 5-1 (Titan Classic Blue); 9-9 Kapaun-Mt. Carmel (Titan Classic Blue); 9-10 1st/3rd, at Wichita Classic Blue; 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 (2-2)—Salina Central 2-3; Liberal 2-5; Hutchinson 1-0, OT (Titan Classic Red); Wichita East 3-0 (Titan Classic Red); 9-10, Derby (Titan Classic Championship); 9-12, at Hays High; 9-20, Hays High; 9-22, Dodge City; 9-24, at Manhattan; 9-27, at Garden City; 10-4, TMP; 10-6, Garden City; 10-10, Wichita Independent; 10-11, at Dodge City; 10-17, at Liberal; 10-20. at McPherson
HAYS HIGH (2-2) — Garden City 0-4; Wichita Classical 10-0; Derby 2-3 (Titan Classic Red); Topeka West 6-0 (Titan Classic Red); 9-10, Hutchinson (Titan Classic Red); 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 (2-1)—Great Bend 5-2; Kapaun-Mt. Carmel 1-6 (Titan Classic Blue); Wichita NW 2-1 (Titan Classic Blue); 9-10, 5th Wichita North (Titan Classic Blue); 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
TITAN CLASSIC
WHITE BRACKET
WEST HIGH SCHOOL
9 a.m. 7th place—Circle vs. Emporia
11 a.m. 5th place—Wichita Homeschool vs. Wichita Southeast
1 p.m. 3rd place—Wichita West vs Wichita South
3 p.m. Championship—Heights vs. Salina Central
BLUE BRACKET
WICHITA NORTH HIGH SCHOOL
FRIDAY
Semifinal—Wichita Carroll vs. Maize High
Semifinal—Kapaun-Mt. Carmel vs. Dodge City
SATURDAY
7th place—Manhattan vs. Northwest
5th place—Wichita North vs. Liberal
1 p.m.—Semifinal losers
3 p.m.—Semifinal winners
RED BRACKET
WICHITA SOUTH (Turf)
7th place—Wichita Trinity vs. Topeka West
5th place—Hutchinson High vs. Hays High
3rd place—Wichita East vs. Newton
3 p.m. Championship game—Great Bend vs. Derby
RED BRACKET
WICHITA SOUTH (Turf)
9 a.m. 7th place—Wichita Trinity vs. Topeka West
11 a.m. 5th place—Hutchinson High vs. Hays High
1 p.m 3rd place—Wichita East vs. Newton
3 p.m. Championship game—Great Bend vs. Derby
