Park Hill South senior Lucas Smith holds up the Class 4 State Boy’s Soccer Second Place plaque in the Panther’s heartbreaking 2-1 state championship loss to Rockhurst at the World Wide Technology Soccer Park on Nov. 18.
FENTON – Playing until the final whistle has never been as prominent as it was in the Class 4 Boys’ Soccer State Championship at the World Wide Technology Soccer Park on Nov. 18.
The matchup saw a stunning finish between two Kansas City teams with significantly different resumes. Rockhurst (24-0) was nationally ranked – having won the last two state titles – and Park Hill South (20-3-1) only had two state appearances in program history, both before the 21st century.
Being tied in the final minute, it appeared that the championship wouldn’t be decided in regulation until an unfortunate series of events in the closing moments. Players were scrambling around the field looking for an improbable goal, and one succeeded.
With less than 20 seconds on the clock, there was a throw-in on the Hawklets’ side of the field and Rockhurst junior Uchan Kohring got possession and kicked it high towards the goal. The ball bounced right at the edge of the penalty box and four Panthers surrounded Kohring, not including goalkeeper Hayden Thatcher who charged towards the group.
Park Hill South players react after Rockhurst scored the go-ahead goal with five seconds left in the Class 4 State Championship.
Kohring and Thatcher collided, the ball rolled away from the pack of players and Rockhurst forward Theodore Franke sprinted into the box and got a clean shot at a wide open goal. The ball flew into the bottom right of the net with five seconds left to all but decide the game.
“It’s just that frantic ending to that game, we had some guys out of position and the ball bounced around,” Park Hill South head soccer coach Chris Farmer said. “Kudos to Rockhurst, they were in the right place at the right time and then finished it; we just kind of got a little bit out of shape.”
All 11 Rockhurst players ran towards their bench in celebratory fashion and Park Hill South’s players had a much different reaction, collapsing on the field in defeat nearly simultaneously. The shocking end was evident by the players, coaches and spectators stunning response, leaving them speechless.
Quinlan McNellis scored the Panthers sole goal with a left-footed kick from 18 yards out in the second half on Nov. 18.
Trailing 2-1, the Panthers had one last play to attempt to tie it, but the half-court heave sailed off to the right and the Hawklets walked away with their third consecutive championship. Park Hill South matched a program best second-place finish – which also happened in 1998 – with a historical season that won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
“We have so much to be proud of, it’s been a long time since we’ve been here and we went toe-to-toe with these guys. It was a great game back and forth; we had our chances and they had their chances. I’m proud of the way we played, it’s hard to get in their minds that this is something to be proud of,” Farmer said.
Hayden Thatcher finished the state championship with six saves.
Rockhurst, which is a private school, has now won 10 championships but Park Hill South held its own until the final seconds. The first half was a battle that ended scoreless.
Just over 90 seconds into the second half Franke had a cross to Kohring who headed into the right of the goal from three yards out. That goal gave the Hawklets the upper hand and a crucial 1-0 lead.
“We just kind of lost track of our man on that back post. That’s kind of what we talked about coming into the second half – just not doing that – and that’s not uncommon for that to happen, but unfortunately it happened,” Farmer said.
Ahoy Victore had a bicycle kick that just missed in the 47th minute and the Panthers had a pair of corner kick opportunities. Not too long after, Quinlan McNellis took advantage of a breakaway opportunity that was led by a Victore pass and the senior knocked down a left-footed goal from 18 yards out.
Ahoy Victore was one of seven Park Hill South seniors this season.
“That goal came from us pressing their backs. We got the ball in there and it was a nice finish by Quinlan,” Farmer said.
The Panthers ended with four shots in each half, but the Hawklets owned possession after the break with 10 shots in the second half. Rockhurst had some multiple chances in the closing minutes and Thatcher came up clutch as the senior goalkeeper ended the day with six saves.
Ahead of the state championship, Park Hill South took down Lindbergh (23-6) in the semifinals on Nov. 17. The Panthers won 2-0 behind a first-half goal by McNellis and a second-half score by Ty Stone.
Park Hill South head boys’ soccer coach Chris Farmer talks to his team after the 2-1 state championship loss on Nov. 18.
“Lindbergh is a good team and we just capitalized on opportunities and were able to come out with the win. We played hard, were committed to being the defender and it was a very good team win,” Farmer said.
Although Park Hill South has seven seniors, it will have some talented players returning next fall with the hopes of a better finish at state. The Panthers had great chemistry all season and only had one regular season loss to a Missouri school.