WICHITA — The Wichita South Titans Classic was not kind to the Great Bend High School boys’ soccer team.
The Panthers opened their season with a week-long tournament, finishing 0-3 for eighth place.
“We were kind of nervous,” Great Bend head coach Gus Prieto said. “We played good, but now we just have to practice really hard and be ready for the next game.”
The Panthers struggled from the outset, falling 6-1 against Kapaun Mt. Carmel to drop to the consolation bracket.
Great Bend’s Ivan Galindo scored its lone goal in the setback.
On Thursday, Great Bend played Maize, and Prieto said that the game was going well.
“We played really well in the first half,” Prieto said. “We were controlling the ball really well, but Michael Prieto got a red card near the end of the half, and we had to play the rest of the game with 10 players.”
Maize took advantage of the extra player.
“They scored in the second half quick,” Gus Prieto said, “but we scored on a corner kick.”
Richard Lara headed the ball into the net on a corner kick to knot the score at one.
The Panthers held Maize to a 1-1 tie through overtime. The Eagles won 2-1 on penalty kicks.
Great Bend challenged Salina Central in the seventh-place game on Saturday, falling 2-1.
“They scored in the first minute of the game,” Gus Prieto said. “It was the first chance that they had, and they scored. That changed the whole tone of the game.”
The Mustangs led 1-0 heading into halftime, and took a 2-0 lead early in the second.
“We didn’t score until the last 10 minutes of the game,” Gus Prieto said. “Carlos Prado had the ball inside the keeper’s box, and he was fouled. Rafael Arias took the (penalty kick).”
The Panthers will look to change their fortunes when they travel to Liberal on Thursday. The junior varsity game starts at 4 p.m., with the varsity game following.

                                                                                         — Kevin Price