The Manhattan High girls' soccer team saw its season end on a quiet night in Topeka, falling 2-0 to Washburn Rural in the state quarterfinals. The defeat closed a chapter that had begun with a regional championship and a return to the state tournament for the first time since 2023.
A Season of Firsts
The Indians finished the year with a 10-8-1 record, having captured a regional title by defeating Topeka High 2-0 in the opener and upsetting No. 2 seed Maize 3-2 to claim the championship. Their run marked the first time the program had reached the state quarterfinals in a stretch that previously included five straight semifinal appearances from 2018 through 2023.
Key contributors included seniors Tess Henry, Annika Schmit, Kameron Felice and Evelyn Thornburg, whose final high school matches drew a close. Junior Lauren Booe entered the postseason with a team-high 10 goals and five assists, while junior goalkeeper Jocelynn Gawith posted seven shutouts throughout the year.
Looking Ahead
Although the quarterfinal loss ended hopes of a semifinal berth, the core of the squad is expected to return next season. The experience gained from this deep run should provide a solid foundation as Manhattan aims to build on the momentum that carried them back to the final eight in Class 6A.