Apaches' Season Ends with 3-2 Loss to Golden Eagles in Final Tournament Match

Wichita, KS — The Apaches wrapped up their final game of pool play on a rainy, gusty Tuesday afternoon against the #12 Laramie County Golden Eagles. Strong winds, ranging from 30-40 mph, made conditions difficult, especially in the first half when the Apaches were forced to play into the wind. Despite the challenging elements, the Apaches fought hard but ultimately fell 3-2 to the Golden Eagles, concluding their 2024 tournament run.

The Apaches came out strong early, with Gabrielle Thompson taking a shot in the first two minutes of play. While the shot didn't find the back of the net, the Apaches quickly regained possession. In the 9th minute, Kyleigh D'Spain took a shot that was deflected by the Golden Eagles' defense, but Thompson was in the right place at the right time to head the ball past the goalie, giving the Apaches a 1-0 lead.

However, the Golden Eagles responded quickly. After a brief attack, Laramie County's Saki Tsuchiya made a spectacular save to keep the Apaches in front. Playing against the wind, the Apaches resorted to small, quick passes to transition up the field. Despite several attempts, a shot from the Apaches went wide right, keeping the score at 1-0.

In the 21st minute, Laramie County found an equalizer after a foul near midfield led to a free kick by Celeste Jimenez-Mont. The ball took an unfortunate bounce in front of the goal, leaving Tsuchiya exposed and allowing the Golden Eagles to tie the game 1-1.

The Apaches made a substitution, bringing in Layne Chapman as goalkeeper. However, the team struggled with possession and seemed to be affected by the strong winds, as several players were seen holding the ball for their teammates during free kicks and goal kicks. The Golden Eagles took advantage of the Apaches' unsettled defense, scoring again in the 31st minute. Jimenez-Mont fired a powerful shot from outside the box that slipped past Chapman and into the left side of the net, giving Laramie County a 2-1 lead.

As the game continued, the Golden Eagles kept possession for most of the first half. In the 36th minute, Hailey Grillas found space to make a quick cutback, creating room for a shot over Chapman into the top left corner. The shot left Chapman injured as she landed awkwardly on her shoulder, forcing another goalkeeper substitution back to Tsuchiya.

At halftime, the Golden Eagles held a 3-2 advantage.

The second half saw the Apaches come out with renewed energy. They pushed for possession and created several chances, including a corner kick in the 60th minute. Miki Hayashi placed a perfect ball into the box, which was headed in by Rebekah Nolan, pulling the Apaches within one goal at 3-2.

Despite continued pressure and eight more shots in the second half, the Apaches were unable to find the equalizer. Three shots were saved by the Golden Eagles' goalkeeper, one hit the crossbar, and the others went wide.

When the final whistle blew, the Golden Eagles had held on for a 3-2 victory, ending the Apaches' tournament run and their 2024 season. While the loss was a hard one to swallow, the Apaches can hold their heads high, having fought through adverse conditions and given their all on the field. The team's hard work and determination this season made both their school and coaches proud.