Former Cats devastated by loss

A miracle shot turned a dream into a nightmare for the Kansas City Wizards Juniors.
The U19 boys club soccer team – featuring Blue Springs graduates Tyler Nichol and Chase McCoy and Blue Springs South graduate Ian Christenson – was just seconds away from heading into overtime in the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships title game Sunday in North Little Rock, Ark.
Then, it happened.
A 35-yard free kick went to Hunter Jumper, who deflected the ball into the goal, giving the title to Solar 89 out of Dallas and ending the national title hopes of the Wizards Juniors.
“It was ridiculous,” McCoy said. “It was the very last minute. It was just devastating. Our goalie couldn’t have even see it.”
Nichol said the loss was the hardest he’s ever had to take.
“We were seconds away from going to overtime,” he said. “It happened so fast. It was a flash before our eyes. The goal happened so fast. No one saw it coming. We were all preparing for extra time or penalty kicks. And just like that, it was taken away.
“This is the toughest loss I’ve had to take. It was the biggest game I’ve been in and the biggest disappointment.”
The Wizards Juniors went undefeated in round robin play at 2-0-1 – the only blemish being a tie coming against Solar 89 at 1-1 in the final game of the round-robin portion of the four-team tournament. McCoy scored a goal in a 3-1 win over Colorado Rush Nike.
McCoy said the Wizards had their chances to win the game in regulation, but couldn’t put those chances away.
“Our goalie (Alex Burton) played amazing,” he said. “He won the Adidas Golden Gloves award. We had our chances. So many could have fallen in or just went wide. We hoped we could get lucky and get one in, but we didn’t.”
McCoy also said though he was disappointed and will still second-guess everything about the final, he knows how important the tournament was and how it is something he will never forget.
“It was an amazing experience,” he said of the national finals, which featured some of the top young college players in the nation. “It is something I will remember for the rest of my life. I really will.
“It was so special. I will tell everyone I know about this. It was a great experience.”
Nichol said he hopes his teammates appreciate what all they accomplished.
“I’m starting to realize just how great of a season we had and how great of an accomplishment this was,” he said. “To make it as far as we did, I can’t remember another team from Kansas City who made it that far.”
Nichol also said this game will drive him in his college career at Rockhurst University.
“I’ve never been this disappointed,” he said. “When I go back to college, I want to make it to the next level. I think we have a chance to play for a national championship. But the goal is not just to get there. I don’t want the same (disappointment).”