LIBERAL — The Great Bend High School boys’ soccer team opened its season against defending Western Athletic Conference champion Liberal.
The Redskins, last year’s Class 5A state runner-up, graduated 14 seniors and were able to beat the Panthers 8-3.
“This was the first game of the season, and it was against one of the strongest teams in the state, which was kind of bad for us because they still have a very good team,” GBHS head coach Gus Prieto said. “But it is also good for us because it will get easier.”
Prieto said that the loss can be a learning experience for the Panthers.
“They have to learn and understand that nothing is free,” Prieto said. “If you want to win, you have to go out there and play 100 percent.”
The Redskins were able to score early in the game.
“It was a good game,” Prieto said. “We played really good in the first half, but we had a few mistakes on defense that let them score. They got the ball in the middle and scored.
“They had a few good guys and my defense couldn’t stop them.”
After striking first, Liberal went cold for a while, and the Panthers tied the game on a goal from Oscar Torres. Torres finished the game with two goals.
The Liberal offense picked up and was able to extend its lead to 4-1 by end of the first half.
Torres got his second goal of the game early in the second half, making it 4-2.
Enrique Guyton scored the third goal for the Panthers, but the Redskins were able to run away with the game.
The Panthers are back in action at the Titan Classic in Wichita on Monday, when Great Bend will play Circle (El Dorado) at 9 a.m. Great Bend will play Mulvane in the second round of the classic on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
— Kevin Price