SM Northwest ends South soccer's repeat quest

Moments before Shawnee Mission Northwest's Sam McCrillis touched off a wild celebration Tuesday among the Cougars boys soccer team and its faithful, which descended upon the Olathe District Activity Center like a swarm of locusts, it was Olathe South's fans who rose from their seats cheering.

The reigning Kansas 6A champion Falcons were maybe a foot away from a second unanswered goal and the lead during 6A quarterfinal action when senior Brad Barclay laid out to head a cross from junior Trevor Pentola.

But SM Northwest goalkeeper Shawn Miles somehow rebuffed the shot on goal and turned away a rebound chance in the 64th minute to the chagrin of South's fans.

Then McCrillis' game-winner came in the 65th minute, giving the Cougars a 2-1 victory and a spot in the 6A semifinals Friday at the Blue Valley District Activities Complex.

“That's how quickly the game changes,” Falcons coach Will Stoskopf said.

It's also how quickly a season can end.

Playing without ill starters Nate Opperman, Cameron Hundelt and Kyle Vassar, South went down a goal in the first 12 minutes when a defensive gaffe led to a turnover in its own box.

SM Northwest junior Samuel Filsinger tapped the ball free to senior Jon Kankam, who swept a shot just inside the far post from the right side of the box.

But South didn't roll over.

The Falcons answered in the 26th minute when senior Trey Bristow, who has just checked back in, gathered in a pass from Pentola and went directly at Miles, sliding the game-tying goal barely wide of the Cougars' goalkeeper.

The score remained tied until the final 16 minutes, but the drama still wasn't done. South, 15-4, won a corner kick in the 79th minute. Senior Alex Pilsl boomed a short cross to freshman Ryan Hill, whose header pinged off the right corner of the goal.

The rebound went to Falcons junior Brett Robertson, but his shot sailed high.

In the final minute, another Pilsl corner kick was ticketed for the goal, but Miles punched it away with 25 seconds left as the Cougars held on.

“I'm proud of my guys,” Stoskopf said. “They didn't quit. They didn't give up. We were short-handed, but we didn't make any excuses. We came out and battled. ... We just ran out of time, but we never stopped working and fighting to get chances.”

South had beaten SM Northwest, 12-7, in two prior meetings this season — a 2-1 victory in the season's second game, a semifinal showdown at the Olathe Soccer Tournament, and a 1-0 win during Sunflower League play, the Cougars' only loss in the last nine games after a 4-6 start.

SM NORTHWEST 2, OLATHE SOUTH 1

SM Northwest (Jon Kankam, Sam McCrillis), Olathe South (Trey Bristow). Records: SMNW 12-7, OS 15-4.